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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1981-07-08, Page 30 local BY JASON AINSLI E Three prominent Goderich businessmen are drawing in their shingles this sriraaner after each has operated for about a quarter century in the vicinity of The Square. The • long-established businesses of Earl Rawson Albert Shore and Harold Blackstone will cease operations by the end of the season as Goderich sees. yet more of the olk original business com- munity erode. Harold Blackstone of Blackstone Fur niture has been in business for, about 50 years. His began as a family enterprise in the confectionery trade, buthis father, Harold, started doing ,furniture repairs and the operation spread until furniture became the primary business and the confection line was dropped. • Wood and furniture had been a family interest since Grandfather Blackstone had worked for the Goderich Organ Works. Mr. Blackstone said that in the time he has been in business, there were never more than two or three furniture outlets in town. "The other stores didn't make much difference to our business," he said. "It's good to have competition because then the shopper can compare furniture and prices." Until Thursday of this week, Mr. Blackstone is busily reducing all the prices of his stock. And then the liquida- tion sale begins. He's happy about leaving the business life behind, and he is making no concrete plans for the future., "I've heard that people are busier in retirement than ,they were in active business," he said. And such a prospect doesn't frighten him. Like the other two men leaving their businesses, Mr. Blackstone is certain he'll find many things to occupy his new- found time. Albert Shore of Shore's Gifts and Jewellery on The Square is letting go the reins of command after 29 years in the appliance and gift line. His business started very near his present location but in 1962, Mr. Shore gave up appliances for' the gift and jewellery trade. He says it's not surprising that three businesses in the core area are closing. "All three businessmen are about thee same age. We want to take it easy." Mr. Shore does riot attribute problems with the economy as a factor in closing usiness en retire ago. 4n another sense, however, The Square has changed a great deal. "Now there are sidewalks and lights and the Business Improvement Associa- tion, but it's only been 25 years since The Square was paved, he said. Mr. Rawson- came to Goderich in 1952 and after the store is closed in August, he plans to spend his retirement here too. Mali store 5Y Brian Reed his shop. Two years ago, he and his wife decided they would close down in 1981 and start enjoying their time. The Shores have many hobbies awaiting their atten- tion. In 1975 whenthe Suncoast Mall facility was so controversial among downtown merchants, Mr.. Shore was one of the founders of the Business Improvement Association. The BILA was the group responsible for, among other things, the painting of the buildings around The Square. The association, and the consolidation it brought to the core area merchants, pro- tected these businessmen from the threatening mall complex. • "The mall actually improved business on The Square," Albert Shore said. "Peo- ple shopped downtown, not only for the pretty Courthouse Park and the sidewalks,"but for the good quality of the stores and the personal service they would get." But The Square has not always been the same. "We've seen a lot of sudden changes and cycles," Mr. Shore said. "My wife says that in the last 10 years, most businesses on The Square have changed in some way." And the final change in Shore Gifts and Larry Johnston Jewellery will be complete by the end of the summer. Earl Rawson of Rawson's Shop for Men has been located on the corner of Montreal Street and The Square since 1968, although he has been a clothier in town for 24 years. Like his two counterparts, Mr. Rawson says the time has come to retire and relax, but he admits the present economic binds .do not offer much incen- tive for a man to be in business, especial- • ly if he's starting out. "The day is coming when a small operation will be obsolete," he said. "Successful businesses of today need four or five stores that are serviced bya central warehouse." But Mr. Rawson has enjoyed his business in ,town and ap- preciates the loyalty of his Goderich clientele. • He • said that, despite the years, the core area does not seem much different because some of the well-established businesses were there a quarter-century appoints new assistant Don's Shoe Place, located in Suncoast Mall, announces that Brian Reed of Goderich has been promoted to the posi- tion of- Assistant Manager of the Goderich store. Brian, a resident . of Goderich, will take on the respon- sibilities immediately. Larry Johnston, an employee of Don's, has been awarded a shoe repair cer- tificate from the Conestoga College of Applied Arts .and Technology. It is only the second award of tins type to be issued in this area, through Don's Shoe Place and the Industrial Training Program at Conestoga. For this certificate, Larry was in training for 600 hours. Coach House Travel sold The Coach House Travel Service, previously owned by the Champion Group of Companies, has been purchased by Gerry Wise who has worked for the agency for the past two years. Mr. Wise, who worked for 22 years in the travel business in . London; Ontario, says he plans no major changes in the name or format of this business, which he took over as of June 22. He has a staff of three, including Joan Gibbs, who has 10 years in the travel business; Gail Lacroix and Chris Wise, both with four years' experience. The agency will still provide complete arrangements for air, rail, or water travel, as well as other travel services.. - Plumbers split pair The Goderich Hoffmeyer little Plumbers split a pair of league games this week in Midwestern Ontario Ladies' Fastball League action. Last Tuesday the Little • Plumbers gave up four runs in the final two innings in a 4- 3 loss to Oshweken but they rebounded with a 4-2 win over the Moorefield Hilltops in a game here F ridgy. In the game against Osh- weken, the Plumbers surged into a 3-0 first -inning lead and then watched that lead dissipate as Oshweken scored four times in,the final two innings to steal a 4-3 win. The Plumbers scored' three times in their first at bat, raking Oshweken pit- cher Be Beaver for four hits. Jenny More led off with a single; - advanced to second and'scored on Norma Walter's single. With two out; Mary Kolkman tripled to drive in Walter, and Kolkman scored on Sue Kolkman's single. The game turned into a defensive struggle and Plumber three -run lead stood up until the eighth inning when Oswheken got to Plumber 'pitcher Darlene Bostock for two runs on three hits. Goderich had two base runners in their half of the ninth but were unable to pad the one -run lead. Oshweken took advantage of one hit and 2 Plumber error to score two runs in their half of the ninth and come away with the 4-3 victory. Mary Kolkman led the Goderich 10 -hit attack with three hits in four trips to the plate inchiding a run -scoring triple. . Bostock gave up four runs on ten hits in the loss. Heidi Elliott pulled the Little Plumber back into the win column Friday, as she tossed a stingy three -hitter in a 4-2 win over Moorefield. The Plumbers scored twice in the first inning as - Diane Snell and Norma Walter singled and scored on errors. More scored the third Plumber rusk, leadingoff the fifth inning with a triple and scoring on a Walter single. More also scored the in- surance run in -the seventh after a leadoff single. Elliott silenced the Moorefield bats allowing only two singles and a triple across nine innings. She struck out four batters and walked five. Smitty would rather Sell it, than plant it! A ONCE IN A YEAR OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE!!! oFk • 4 DAYS ONLY JULY 8th to JULY 11th SPECIAL BONUS! WITH EVERY PURCHASE OF 510.00 OR MORE FROM THE OUTDOOR GARDEN CENTRE & TREE SHOP ' SMITTY WILL GIVE YOU A COUPON WORTH 10 % OFF ANY ITEM INSIDE HIS STORE EXCLUDING FEED & FARM SUPPLIES 4 DAYS ONLY•,,.JULY 8th THRU JULY 1 1 tt OUTDOOR GARDEN CENTRE • AND TREE SHOP IN THE PARKING LOT CORNER OF 6MITSOUTH AND ELGIN -STREETS' - ti ARM Gnap N, CENTER 82 SOUTH MTREET GODER ICH 524-8761 GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, WEDNESDAY, JULY 8,1981—PAGE 3 Hydro looks at �ptionsfor transporting 'Bruce power An Ontario Hydro report released recently examines six options for delivering power from the Bruce nuclear power complex and improving the power supply capability in Southwestern Ontario. The report was .. issued following a government re- , quest this week for Hydro to continue the process for selection and approval of a general system plan for new transmission facilities. In so doing, the government demonstrated its support for the Porter Commission's recognition of the need to build a second power line out of the Bruce complex. The six alternatives in- volve 500,000 volt and 230,000 volt transmission lines, with at least one new 500,000 volt line out of the Bruce com- plex, as endorsed by the Porter Commission. The lines from Bruce could go either to a new transformer station near London, to the Essa transformer station near Barrie or to both., Additional lines are required to rein- • force the supply to London. Besides providing the means' to deliver the future power production of the Bruce B stations to major centres in Ontario and im- prove supply . to southwestern Ontario, the alternatives also take into account Hydro's intercon- nection capability with American utilities. With only one 500,000 volt L 41) 0 K. •RINGS •NECKLACES •BRACELETS�•BEADS o1}Lra Jern3 41 ST. DAVID, GODER104 524-414/72 line out of Bruce now, Hydro is concerned about its ability to deliver the combined power of the Bruce A and B stations. All six plans are teChnical- ly feasible, but each carries a different price tag. The total dollar cost of the six plans ranges from 670 million to mere than $800 million. The , alternatives also linvolve a variety of social and . environmental costs. "I want to emphasize that Hydro is not recommending any one of the six alter- natives at this tile," said Chairman Hugh Macaulay in announcingthe revolt "All we are doing is seek- ing public discussion and congruent on them between now and the fell," Macaulay added, noting that public in- put has already gone intetlie preparation of today's report citizens'through working When this phase of public discussion isconwdetedin the fail, Hydro will prepare envivammentat assessment documents ding a preferred alternative. 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