This multiple dwelling was constructed by A. L. [Albert Lewis] Smith (1816-1887), an American tinsmith and land dealer who built and sold many homes in the East Hill area in the 1870s. This particular building was erected between 1874 and 1876. It includes numbers 285, 287 and 289 Charles Street. Our interest is in the first one in the photograph, number 285 Charles Street. Originally this would have been a single home for a family. It is 3 stories in height, has a 2nd Empire or Mansard roof with gabled windows. The columns on the first floor entrance porch are Ionic and the columns on the 2nd floor porch are Tuscan.
A hundred years ago, in 1926, this was the home of William C. Mikel and his family. The Mikel family in this area were descendants of Godlove Mikel, a loyalist who settled in Ameliasburgh. William Mikel was very active in the United Empire Loyalist Association and served as dominion vice president of it, and was President of the Belleville Loyalists. He is noted for his involvement in the 1924 celebration in Belleville of the 150th Anniversary of the arrival of the Loyalists in this area. It was the largest celebration held in Belleville in its history.
William Mikel was born in 1868 and died in 1950. He was a Captain in the 15th Battalion, Argyll Light Infantry in 1885. He later graduated from Trinity College with a Bachelor of Civil Law degree in 1897. Over the years he served as auditor, city clerk, and alderman, and was elected as President of the Ontario Municipalities Association in 1907 to 1908. He was elected as mayor of Belleville for 1924 and 1925. In 1926 he began to serve as magistrate for Belleville.
