HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2015-12-30, Page 22 Huron Expositor • Wednesday, December 30, 2015
130 years of business in Seaforth
Sills is up for
sale, three boys
still carrying the
family torch
Shaun Gregory
Huron Expositor
After numerous genera-
tions, decade after decade,
century upon century, one of
the oldest businessmen in
Seaforth is stepping down,
but not before a few of his
grandchildren learn the
trade.
At the corner of Market
and Main Street is the well-
recognized shop named Sills
Home Hardware, a company
which has been providing
the community with service
for the last 130 years. The
family is saddened that if it is
sold they will miss the place
that formed their family's
identity. However, owner Jim
Sills, 70, said this is a deci-
sion three to four years over
due. Subsequently taking
the reigns in 1966 after
becoming a full-time
employee, his commitment
would later be rewarded in
1984 with the title of part
owner. A few years later Sills'
uncle and father died, which
made him the sole proprie-
tor. The business has come a
long way since his great,
great grandfather resigned
from his more than 20 -year
employment.
"He must not have liked
the little bugger (owner's
son), he told him you wont
be giving me orders,' so he
quit," stated Sills. This was
after his grandfather realized
his employer's son was the
new boss.
Being jobless at the time,
Sills' descendent ran into a
banker who told him, "Why
don't you run your own
business?" From that off-
hand statement the hard-
ware store took shape, hold-
ing various names like Sills &
Murdie, George A. Sills and
Sons and the present head-
ing, Sills Home Hardware.
Being a father of four, Sills
made an effort to keep the
ball rolling with the hopes
one of his offspring would
follow in the family
footsteps.
"My three boys, I tried to
get them interested, but it
was like pulling teeth," Sills
said in the shop in the
upstairs office.
"Hey I worked off and on, I
worked here for a full year
once," defending himself in a
joking manner replied Sills'
son, 38 -year-old, Don Sills.
While he and the other
siblings were growing up
Don, referred to his father's
store as a "safe haven."
Despite the fact he chose a
different path in life, his
three youngest sons have
been selected for the family
corporation in a one day a
week job opportunity. The
big difference between the
father and his sons is they
are not yet teenagers, one
still has his front teeth to
grow. You can walk in there
on Fridays and most will see
the Sills boys helping cus-
tomers, answering phones,
cutting keys and unloading
the new shipment.
"As long as we've been tall
enough to see over the glass
visor," explained 12 -year-old,
Isaiah Sills about the
requirements of being able
to be a key cutter.
Considering they are so
young and not even past
five -feet tall, the boys told
the Expositor certain people
don't take them serious.
"I had someone expect me
to get someone, I asked, 'do
you need anything?' They
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Nancy deGans Shaun Gregory Dianne McGrath
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Seaforth 8 Main , t
iluronExpositor 519Street-527-0240Seaforh
didn't say anything. So I said
it again, 'do you need any-
thing?' They are like, 'oh you
are helping me,"' stated
Jacob Sills, 10.
"(I guess) they thought I
was going to get someone
older."
Matteo Sills, the youngest
sibling at seven, started
wearing the red Home
Hardware shirt last Septem-
ber. Other than his friends
who work on farms, he and
his other brothers are not
aware of many kids with a
job in retail or any job at
that. The home schooled
Grade 2 student said he
enjoys every job his grand-
father assigns to him.
"I like doing the cash reg-
ister," said Matteo, adding to
date, he still has not seen a
$100 bill, but he has seen
many $50 bills.
Sills looks over at Matteo
sitting comfortably in his
chair in his office and while
giggling says, "he likes
dusting."
"No I don't," responded
Matteo to his grandfather
while smiling.
Since this business has
been constantly changing
from a new age bracket,
from one Sills to the next
coming up, the 70 -year-old
instructed the boys with
similar guidance as his pre-
decessors did with him.
"Same thing I did with my
Shaun Gregory
From youngest to oldest, three generations of Sills.
The three Sills brothers, carrying a name and job title that has
been part of the community since the 1800s
uncle, just like when I was
doing the plumbing, electri-
cal and gas fitting with him.
Sometimes he wouldn't say
anything, but he expected
me to watch what he did,"
Sills reminisced.
With the hardware
retailer on the market for
sale, what's next for the Sills
business is a question that
cannot be answered until
it's sold. One thing is for
sure, if all goes as planned
and the century -old estab-
lishment does change
names, the three youth will
be the last generation of
Sills to wear the Home
Hardware golf shirt.
Office Houri '
for December
Mondays — 9am-5pm
Tuesdays—Closed
Wednesdays — 9am-5pm
Thursdays — 9am-5pm
Fridays — 8am-4pm
Seaforth
Office Closed
December 24 & 25
December 31
&January 1
J1LIon Expositor
8 Main Street, Seaforth
519-527-02401 www.seaforthhuronexpositor.com