HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1976-08-18, Page 11Remembering
The General Store
by W.G.Strong
"What has become of the old grocery store
where we gathered on Saturday night?"
Cicero, an ancient philosopher, once wrote,
"Memory is a treasury Id the guardian of all
things." Remembrances do embellish life,
especially rural life. The tranquility of country
life shaped and moulded staunch character.
Senior citizens hold pleasant memories of
youthful days when life's tempo was slower
and unhurried. What memories are evoked of
childhood's experiences , at the country
general store that stood at the crossroads!
Just once more would we like to open an
old-fashioned village store door and whiff the
distinctive fragrances we. remember.
On Saturday evening, mid-winter, when
darkness descended and cold winds whipped
the snow into drifts along country roads
bordered with crooked rail fences, when
kerosene lamps and lanterns cast an eerie
glow on the landscape, the farmer with his
frugal family started out to replenish their
larder's stock. Wrapped in his , coonskin
overcoat with the wife and children encased in
winter coats, woollen mitts and scarves,
stocking caps pulled well down on the
elements.
The expansive buffalo robe and the
inevitable horse blanket gave protection
against the cruel blasts. The old, faithful
mare jogged along leisurely keeping pace with
the music from the strand of bells circling her
body. Occasionally she slowed up as she
approached a pitch-hole or attempted to jump
across much to the consterna tion of all
parties concerned.
Arriving at the store, the family headed for
the warmth of ,the stove while dad drove
around to the lee side of the building, tethered
his docile steed to the_hitching-post with its
iron ring, blanketed her carefully and cli mbed
a short flight of steps to the plank platform
where he stamped his feet and shook .his coat
before opening the single door 'which set •
motion the proverbial sleighbell announcing
the arrival of another customer.
Old Box. Stove . ,
Others revelled around the old box-stove set
on its zinc mat. Aging arm chairs, egg crates,
butter firkins, nail kegs served as resting
places. Nearby was a carton filled with
sawdust substituting for the inevitable
spittoon or cuspidor, a' necessary, sanitary
receptacle to catch the tobacco spit secreted
by the salivary glands. Pipes were emptied,
stems cleaned with a stout straw from the
floor broom or heated knitting, needle, refilled
with cut plug smoking tobacco, usually Stag,
Queen's Navy or McDonald's. With a sulphur
match applied at the proper angle, a few
draws on the mouth piece and the circling
smoke caught in the warm air currents soon
pervaded the whole place of business.. While
the men folk indulged in idle chatter or
discussed such weighty problems as township
Mines, the state of the weather or bits of local
gossip, the evening passed pleasurably.
Meanwhile the ladies, shopped. Money was
scarce and much of the trade was conducted
on a miniature barter system. Farm produce
including eggs, butter, tallow, lard and fowl
were exchanged for the necessities of the
home and family. Wood at about a dollar a
cord and potathes at forty cents a bag were
staple commodities in many of these
commercial enterprises.
Wonderful smells could be detected. Some
were blends, others stood forth with their
individual aromas like the clear streaks of
colour in a marble cake. One quickly
recognized the pungent fragrance of the big
cartwheel cheese, of pickled herring and salt
codfish. When these were mingled with the
satisfying smell of fresh' ground coffee, you
had an aroma no manufacturerer of perfume
has been able' to match:,
Boxes arid Chests
One almost needed a catalogue to find one's
way around. The grocery section occupied No st of one side of the emporium. There
were few packaged food stuffs but an
assortment of boxes, tins, cartons, caddies, •
cans, chests, canisters and diverse containers held bu lksupplieswith - their respective
aromatic odours - cinnatrion, ginger, cloVes,
nutmeg. Under the counter-top were bins or barrels for white and brown, sugar, flouri salt
oatmeal, Boston crackerS.
In a show case at one end of the counter
were plug tobacco for chewing and smoking,
snuff, five-cent cigars, sulphur matches, clay
pipes and Missouri meerchaums (corn-cob).
In glass jars on the lower shelves behind the
counter were candy canes, sugar sticks, all
day suckers, rock candy, bull's eyes,
horehound, peppermints, conversation
lozenges, cinnamon hearts, licorice, spruce
gum, bags of Long Tom popcorn.
On upper shelves above the reach of
inquisitive youngsters were arrayed
ointments, salves, condition powders and
potions guaranteed to cure all diseases
incident to suffering humanity. Popular health
remedies included Scott's Emulsion, Burdock
Blood Bitters, Dr. Thomas' Electric Oil,
Dodds' Kidney Pills, Sloan's Liniment and
Lydia Pinkham's Pink pills for pale people.
The, stationery section displayed such
miscellaneous items as writing pads,
envelopes, scribblers, foolscap, Carter's ink,
pen handles, pen nibs, lead and slate pencils,
school bags, copy books, drawindbooks and a
meag .re selection -of the standard school
'texts. Slates with their red felt binding
interlaced with black cord were the envy of
every school child.
Bolts of Gingham
The dry goods section usually opposite the
grocery department carried a wide variety of
bolts of gingham, calico, percale, linen, cotton
, towelling, spools of thread, needles and
thimbles, hanks of wool, crochet and carpet
hooks, rolls of cotton batting, long, black hose
and hair ribbons. Good familiar smells came
frbm the wide, wooden counter heaped with
stiff-starched overalls, heavy woollen pants,
smocks, work shirts, fleece-lined garments,
Long Johns, grey wool socks, felt leggings,
leather mitts to pull over hand-knit ones, peak
Caps with ear lugs or muffs, leather shoes for
Sunday• wear, work boots, gaiters,- carpet
slippers, moccasins, copper-tied boots for
junior. Then 'there was the acrid pungency
from rubber boots and oil cloth blending with
the fragrances emanating from the utility
section' at the rear of the store - hemp rope,
harness, leather straps, horse blankets, horse
collars, sweat pads.
In the adjoining frame shed stood the
refrigerator in which the store butter and eggs
in winter and fueled by blocks of ice in
summer. Here axle grease, coils of barbed
wire, b ales of binder twine in season, hayfork
rope, forks, shovels and garden tools as well
as a limited stock of such tools as axes,
hammers, picks, shovels and crow-bars. Kegs
of wire, nails, shingle nails, fence staples and
spikes were within easy reach. In connection
with axle grease the story is told about an Irish
immigrant engaged 'by a local farmer. •
One rainy day the lad was asked to grease
the wagon up on the threshing floor. When
the farmer went to check on the progress
being made he was surprised to note that
grease had been applied to every part of the
implement but the wheels had enver been
removed." I done,. what you told me."
General Notes
Some of these gpneral stores continue to
operate despite the encroachments made by
modern supermarkets. Unlike the attractive
window displays of today, those of yesterday
often were used as extra storage space behind
Venetian blinds rolled down to conceal stained
and yellowed cartons. Here despite the
inclemency of the weather straw hats might
be found, ,broad-brimmed, making one recall
the smell bf hayfields. There was a legitimate
reason for having the wide, green blinds
lowered because it would have been difficult
to untangle the junk if somebody wanted
something they thought they wanted when
windovsk-shopping. Here, 00, the largest
blue-bottle flies you ever saw tried
desperately to find an escape route through
the 'dust and cobwebs of a blistered corner
behind the sun-heated window pane.
There are hosts of Canadians who still
remember .those general stores of by-gone
days arid who recall those old-fashioned
place's Where goods were kept for sale and not
merely marts of trade.
"There's a bit- o' real' affection
Wrapped-round the country store
That was Standin' at the, crossroads
Eighty years ago and more."
Apply for UIC
benefit now
The Honourable Robert
Andras, Minister of Manpower
and Immigration, issued a
reminder to the large number of
workers between 65 and 70 years
of age who have not applied for
their unemployment insurance
retirement benefit.
About 50,000 persons' now
eligible for the special three-week
retirement benefit have failed to
apply. The figure represents
ab out two-thirds of the total
number of those eligible. After
August 15, 1976, this benefit will
no longer be available to persons
in this age group.
"The Unemployment
Insurance Commission wants to
m ake sure that this particular age
group is made aware of this
special benefit before it expires,"
Mt. Andras said.
In order to qualify, one must
have worked and contributed to
the unemployment insurance
Program for at least 20 weeks in
the past year from the date of
application. Some persons may
already be ineligib le because of
All systems are go for the 1976
International Plowing Match and
Farm Machinery Show, to be, held
in Bruce County from 'September
28 through October 2. This year's
Match site is the Earl Johnston
and neighbouring farms, located
just west of Walkerton.
The Tented City area covers
100 acres, with more than 400
exhibitors displaying the latest in
farm machinery, automobiles and
home appliances.
"The International Plowing
Match andFarrn Machinery Show
provides one of the largest
outdoor showrooms for farm
equipment in North America,"
states Ed Starr, Secretary
Manager of the Ontario
Plowmen's Association. "It gives
farmers an opportunity to
evaluate and compare all types of
machinery and farm supplies in
one place. Exhibitors have key
personnel on hand to answer any
questions about their products."
To date, more exhibitors have
booked space in the Tented City
than ever before. Mr. Starr points
out that the Match offers plenty of
attractions for urban residents as
well as farm families; a view of
The streets are for the
people.
Exercise your rights!
Take a walk.
4).
Walk a klock:lialay.
• OIL BURNER
SERVICE
Time to have your
furnace _cleaned
for the Winter
For Expert
Cleaning and
Repairing
CALL 335-3,398
insufficient weeks of employment
in the past year.
Removing coverage from the 65
- to- 70 age group was the result
of Bill C-69, which was passed by
Parliament last 'December. After
August 15, only persons 65 years
of age will be eligible for
retirement benefits.
This change was made because
of the improvements in other
income maintenance programs
available to persons 65 and over,
such as the Canada and Quebec
pension plans and. Old Age
Security.
The Commission is now
arranging with 'the Canada and
Quebec pension plans to advise
persons reaching 65 to apply for
this benefit. Employers have also
been reminded ,to stop •
unemployment insurance
deductions for those turning 65.
All persons 65 years of age and
over, who have worked in the past
year, should contact their local
unemployment insurance office
immediately to determine
whether or not they qualify.
modern, sophisticated farm
machinery increases awareness of
the equipment required by.
farmers for the production of
quality food.
Match visitors will have an
opportunity to see over 300
contestants compete for more
than $25,000 in prizes in the
various horse and tractor plowing
classes.
Daily parades featuring top
bands, farm machinery, steam
engines, new cars, teams of oxen
and various floats are a highlight
of the Match. The event has a
country fair atmosphere,
complete with carmel corn, •candy
apples and rides for the kids..
Some 50 caterers will be on hand
to serve everything from hot dogs
to full tours home-cooked meals.
Help your
neighbour
when
you help
yourself
Your own community
has first call on every
dollar you deposit in
Victoria and Grey Trust.
In effect, we rent money
from you and pay that
money out in mortgages
and other loans right in
your own community.
MOMber Cariada Depo s it
Insurance Corporation
RA and
GREY
1976 Plowing Match
plans progressing
JOE CRAIGTRUSTco...NY • SINCE 16E39
b. N. Lefebvre, Manager.
Wit.,. **Asiftaistat
THE BRUSSELS. POST, AUGUST 18i 1976. --11
VVioxeter tikowdi,. °Matt&
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