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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1979-01-18, Page 3• • People, Profile: Jackson's General Store sold by Shelley McPhee Jackson's General Store in Brucefield may be undergoing a major change. but it is, well' disguised under the hospitality of the storekeepers and the friendliness of the community. Wallace and Estella Jackson have been serving -,the Brucefield com- munity with their array of dry goods, hardware, foods and cosmetic aids for the past 10, years, but this year they've made a change. The store still looks the same and the Jackson's are still behind the cash register, but a new face is also greeting customers. Glen Chessell, will be hanging his sign on the store as the new owner. Glen, formerly of Brantford, took possession of his new business on January 2, 1979 and seems to be adapting well to the small community. "We don't go by Mr. Chessell," he informed one customer, "my name's Glen." In just an hour visit to the store it 'could be seen that Glen was learning all the tricks of the trade from the Jacksons, who will still help out at the store occasionally. Those tricks include visiting. Each customer, from the ice cieam salesman to local long-time resident J. K. Cornish receives a friendly hello and some conversation, usually about the weather or a community event or the card parties in the IOOF hall above the store. "It's a close community," Glen noticed. "That's one reason why we don't want to leave -Brucefield," Mrs. Chessell added, regarding her and her Tuckersmith. • from page 1 annual Ontario Good Roads convention in Toronto on February 25-28. Clerk McLachlan will attend the tile drainage school (the Drainage Act and Administrations Sector) at the University of Gi elph on April 2 and 3. The total assessment of the township is $4,074,480 for 1979, up $60,160 from last year. The next council meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 7. husband's retirement. "Everything that happens here is a Community affair," she went on, "mainly local people shop here and pretty well everyone is on a first name basis." The store is not only used as a handy shopping spot but many community events are organized here. For instance, Mr. Cornish and ; Mr. Wallace spent time deciding on prizes to buy for the evening card party. Mrs. Jackson also eiplained that money used to be taken at the store, given by local residents for deaths, showers and other gifts or flowers to be purchased for special occasions. Mrs. Jackson has note books datinig back to 1969 with all this information gathered over the years for happy and sad events. ° "These books have memories. There's been sadness here but there have been many happy moments too," Mrs. Jackson reminisced. The Jacksons may be a little sen- timental about the store change, but Glen is eagerly looking forward to his new position. Glen lived in the city for a number of years but he is not totally unfamiliar with the rural lifestyle. He was born and raised in Mitchell and has main- tained a summer trailer at the Pine Lake Camp near Bayfield. Seeing an advertisement in the Clinton News -Record offering the general store for sale, seemed like a perfect opportunity for Glen. He had worked for 15 years as foreman at the huge Massey Ferguson plant in Brantford 'and was looking for a change. "I'm really looking forward to this," he said. "After working in a. factory for the past 15 years this 'will be a big pleasure." ' Mrs. Jackson gave a progress report. "Glen is trying hard. It's a different thing than he's ever been involved with. He finds the area to be very friendly even though the store is in a hodge podge now." Glen is now faced withyear end and inventory time and no sooner will he get the. store under control when he will be faced with another new- situation, marriage. Glen will be married in March and he and his wife Gladys will live in the village and Gladys will also help in Chessell's General Store. This -isn't actually a plug for Bell Canada, but there's nothing nicer than a long distance phone call from a friend. - I guess the commercial was right, it's good to hear the voice of an old companion who lives thousands of miles away. Although there's always new gossip to talk about during such calls, there's a standard ritual that always goes with them. After the rings go through, the receiver is picked up and the initial "Hellos" are exchanged, the inevitable question is raised, "I bet you don't know who this is?" After a blank moment you start rhyming off all the names of people you haven't seen or heard from in years. Then after $3 has been wasted in calling time and you're about to hang up because you really don't know who the mysterious caller is, their identity is revealed. The shock and excitement of this discovery eats "up another $4 worth and a pessimistic thought then flashes through the brain, "Nothing has happened has it? You're alright?" Relieved to know that everything's fine the phone call gets underway. "Well, how are you doing?" we ask one another, the trivial con- versation costing another $6. A lull then hits, "There was so much I wanted to tell you but I can't remember what if was now?" we both agree. It takes a few minutes of silence, costing another $4, to put thoughts in order and to remember all the things that have been done over the past few months. An. hour later, the conversation begins to dwindle and a look at the clock shows that it's time to hang up, and after drawn out farewells and good' wishes, the receivers are hung up. "I wonder how much that call cost?" you Speculate afterwards. A month later, the dreaded question is answered when a bill for $50 arrives from the telephone company. "Fifty dollars, I won't make cans like that again," you promise yourself, but then thinking back and you remember that the call was really worth every cent. LOCAL Family Wagons 77 FORD LTD COUNTRY SQUIRE This low mileage wagon is loaded with equipment. Air conditioning, powerwindows, cruise control, tilt steering wheel, AM/FM stereo radio with tape player, individual seat, right reclining seat, roof rack, tinted glass, woodgrain panelling. Compare anywhere at this price. License No. LST 778 $5,895 74 PONTIAC CATALINA STATION WAGON VS, automatic, power steering, power brakes, power tailgate, radio, rear defogger, tinted windshield, woodgrain panelling, special lamp packaile. Sold and ser- viced by McOee's since new. License No. HNL 257 78 PONTIAC GRAN SAFARI Lady driven, lust 41,000 miles, power door locks, power. tailgate lock, tinted windshield, radio, rear speaker, roof rock, woodgrain panelling, electric roar defogger, radial white walls, fold down Cerra rest. Clean as new! License No. MSY 646 $2,395 $6;895 Pontiac - Buick Cadillac GMC Trucks 'HAMILTON STREET, GObRICN I 524-8391 Glen is not the only one faced wit. changes and challenges, the Jacksons are entering a new part of life as well, retirement. "We're looking forward. to retirement but I wouldn't be surprised if someglay I came runninvlown to the store to get a job," Mrs. Jackson laughed. Undoubtedly, the Jacksons will keep an eye on the store and they will help out when the marriage takes place, when the Chessells head out to their hideaway at Pine Lake or when Glen is busy building his airplane or meeting with his club the Experimental Air- craft Association. Meanwhile, the Jacksons will remain involved in their own club and Church activities, and hope to get the Chessells involved as well. Mrs. Jackson also hopes to spend more time with her daughter, foster -daughter and their families. Still, the general store in Brucefield will remain, open to serve the public and according to Glen, it will be a long, long way into the future before the business closes. In a time when chain convenient stores seem to',be overpowering the efforts of the small rural shops at an increasing rate, it's good to see the interest of the Chessells and the Jacksons and the support of the community make the Brucefield general store a success. CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 1979—PAG 3 A friendly smile and a hospitable greeting are two of the requirements of successfully maintaining a general store. Glen Chessell, the new owner of Jackson's General -store in Brucefield is learning about the operation of a rural shop from the former proprietor Estella Jackson. Estella and her husband Wallace operated the store for 10 years. Mr. Jackson was unavailable for the photograph, because the customers come first. (News -Record photo) Lake freighter freed after being trapped in ice The Goderich Signal - Star reported that the 28,000 ton lake freighter Algoway sits idle at the mouth of Goderich mor, bogged down by ic.e..and slush. The 'Algoway has been stuck near the breakwall since January 4 when it arrived to load 17,000 tons of salt bound for Chicago. ' An icebreaker from Midland could not free the freighter from its icy hold. Meanwhile, the Algoway and 29 crew members have been News of Holmesville Eby Blanche Deeves Small fire controlled Mr. and Mrs. Michael Ritchie, who live at the corner of concession 6 and Telephone ©Road, were very lucky on Saturday when a fire at their home was quickly controlled. The chimney caught fire, but the only damage was to the wallpaper. The community is relieved to know that the fire was a small one, especially on the stormy night of Saturday. Card Party The Goderich Township WI held .their first card party of the year with 10 tables in play. The winners were: ladies' Reeves to be honored The Town. of Seaforth will officially honour Clarence Reeves, who alerted fellow tenants to fire in December and is credited with saving lives and a main street building. Tentative plans are for a public reception at the Legion in co-operation with that group and the Chatnbt(r of Cbmrnerce. The date will"' be an- nounced soon'. The town will present Mr. Reeves with a portable colour TV. Clerk Jim Crocker reported that the police chief is looking into nominating Mr. Reeves for a heroism award. high, Mrs. Mitchell; men's high, Bob Sowerby; ladies low, Sheryl Thompson; men's low, Bill Norman; lone hands, Mrs. Mitchell, Lunch was served and an enjoyable evening was had by all. The next card party will be held in the public school ' at Holmesville on Thursday, January 25. Personals The Holmesville United Church services on Sunday were cancelled due to , the inclement -weather.. The UCW meeting was also post- poned. On Friday evening, eabout 12 friends and neighbours gathered at the home of Doug and Jemmy Bland for a lovely dinner and an evening of cards. TOWN TALK FASHION'S MID -WINTER This Thursday - Friday - Saturday January 18 - 19 - 20 SAVE UP TO 25' on our complete stock of fashion clothing such as .... DRESSES sizes 7 to 20 SKIRTS 8 SLACKS sizes 10 to 20 SUITS sizes 10 to 20 BLOUSES sizes 8 to 44 SWEATERS sizes S -M -L SLEEPWEAR sizes S -M -L -OS PURSES town talk 8 HURON ST. — CLINTON Open: Monday - Saturday, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.; open Friday nights 'Hi 9:00 p".m. hoping for a change of weather and wind direction to shift the ice piled around her bow. The Algoway has sufficient supplies on board to last the crew until this week. Then they will have to come ashore for more supplies and water. Some crew members have walked across the frozen lake to see the town. +++ Richard Ayres plans to use his physical at- tributes to help others who aren't so lucky. The Mitchell Advocate reported that sometime in February, the 20 -year- old plans to run from Mitchell to London. The run, by foot across the 60 kilometre stretch will hopefully raise money for crippled children. rAs if that isn't enough, Richard plans to run the distance non-stop. "I won't quit," he told the Advocate, "I'll just keep going until I drop." Richard has a par- ticular interest in crip- pled children since last summer his nine-year-old brother was killed in a car accident. The youngster had been in a special school where he received help for a speech impediment. The Advocate ex- plajned, that he's not in it for the glory. "I feel if the crippled children were able and we were crip- pled, they would do the same for us." Smile Patience is the ability to put up with- people you'd like to put down. Participate in Canada's Employment Tax Credit Program. The EmploymentPax Credit Program was introduced by the Government of Canada to stimulate employment in the private sector. In essence, we're encouraging you to expand your work force by providing a tax break for your business. The potential annual tax credit for each new employee is Over $:3,000. i\nd there is no limit to the number of new employees you can hire. Now, by:using the experience we've gained so far, we've changed the program to make it even more attractive. Up to 33V3% more tax credit. The maximum term for the tax credit has been increased from nine to 12 months for each new employee::hat means up to :12' :No more tax credit. Greater eligibiliri: We have expanded the number and types .of businesses eligible to benefit. Now almost every busi- ness that's 1)etfn operating in Canada for a year or moI'e can join. in. Wider choice of new eniployees. Now, almost anyone who's unemployed .and registered at a Canada Employment Centre for a minimum of two weeks is eligible. A minirnum of red tape. We've simplified the procedure, so you can do the whole thing, from beginning to end, with just two single -page forms. For full details on the program, contact any Canada Ernployment Centre/Canada Manpower Centre. EMPLOYERS: CANYOU'IGNORE A POSSIBLE TAX CREDIT OF $3,000 OR MORE? Employment and Immigration Canada Bud Cullen, Minister Emploi et Immigration Canada Bud dullan, Minlstre