HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-07-30, Page 42WG. Thompson's is Port Albert's major industry
BY SUSAN HUNDERTMARK The Port Albert branch was acquired in
Quality of product, efficiency and ser- 1981, the seventh branch of 10. The com-
vice receive the largest emphasis by Port pany nQw specializes in the wholesale and
Albert's largest industry, W.G. Thompson retail selling of beans and seeds, in
and Sons, says manager Steve Faber. marketing grain and animal feeds and in
"W.G. Thompson and Sons is a very pro- fertilizers.
gressive, conununity-minded company. In Port Albert, W.G. Thompson and Sons
We have 10 branches throughout Ontario serves the farming community in northern
and two research facilities at Ailsa Craig Huron County and southern Bruce County.
and Morpeth so we have a lot of people and Acquired from M.J. Smith in 1981, the
expertise to give good service," he says. company has expanded i)y adding a com-
While the company was established in puterized drying set-up; a fertilizer blen-
Blenheim by Wesley G. "Tommy" Thomp- ding plant, 400,000 bushels in storage and
son in 1924 handling a variety of products five new silos. It has also increased its
such as wheat, flour, white beans, seeds, receiving capacity in both pits by 8,000
coal, sugar and cement, it has been expan- bushels an hour. •
ding ever since. "The company is dedicated to increas-
ing its capacity as the need is there," says
Faber.
Employing five to 15 employees depen-
ding on the season, W,G. Thompson and
Sons also does custom application of fer-
tilizer on local farms with a modern Tru -
Spread terragator which employs the
newest concepts in fertilizers.
Just last year, the Port Albert branch
began to offer six two-hour seminars for
local farmers on crop scouting which 40
people attended.
"We set up the courses because we
thought there was a need to help. We tried
to show farmers to identify problems and
deal with them so they could increase
yields and reduce costs," says Faber.
TM
People Helping People
Best Wishes for a great celebration!
GODEIFIICHI COMMUNITY
CREDIT UNION
39 ST. DAVID STREET, GODERICH, phone 524-8366
Memories are best
retained through Photography
Goderich Square Circa 1939
For experts in Cameras, Photography and Film Processing...see
Mac CAMPBELL
Royal Bank Block Goderich ph. 524-7532
"We know that so goes farming, so goes
our business. Therefore, we'd be naive to
think we're going to make money if the
farmers don't," he says.
The seminars concentrated on detecting
pests in crops and deciding on the best
pesticide to Control them.
"We had eight local farmers with test
plots and the seminars helped both us and
the farmers. A lot of the guys didn't know
what to look for when they walked the
fields. And, the test plots gave us local
data under our weather and soil
conditions."
The Port Albert elevator is well equip-
ped to handle soybeans, white beans, corn,
quality cereal grains and canola.
The company has also entered the retail
market with Thompson brand white beans,
red kidney beans, yellow eye beans,
sunflower seed, wild bird food and
popcorn.
It carries wholesale and retail
agricultural chemicals and offers custom
service in soil and crop analysis, fertilizer
blending and application and weed control.
The previous owner of the Port Albert
branch was M.J. Smith, of Chatham who
bought the elevator fromliallowen Farms
owned by Dr. Hugh Allen in the summer of
1971.
Before Dr. Allen bought the property in
1965, Reg ]McGee owned the land which
before him, was owned by the Canadian
government and was the site of the 31 Air
Navigation School which trained Royal Air
Force navigators, pilots and airmen dur-
ing the Second World War.
Prior to 1940, owners of the property in-
cluded Albert McGee and his wife
Beatrice, Albert and Reg McGee, their
parents Tannh .Tr, anti
Louise McGee and
before them Roger Milroy who purchased
the land in 1872.
'History book
• from page 17
nypaper" as Mary dsescribes it.She hopes
to continue her research and compile a
more complete history book this winter.
The book will be published by Jostens
National School Service in London which
does school year books. The book will look
like most high school year books published
in area schools, says Nancy. Plans are for
the book tobe ready for sale the week prior
to the sesquicentennial weekend.
Contents of the book will 'include the
history of Port Albert, the history of the
Hawkins family who were the first settlers
in Port Albert, family pictures, family
trees and pictures, churches, schools,
farm machinery, sports, the airport, a
chapter called memories and chapters on
by-laws and residents.
The cover of the history book is an
abstract sunset designed by local resident
Shelley Tigert. ti
Welcome Horne
to Port Albert
Welcome, to former residents
and current residents of Port -
Albert. Best Wishes and we.
hope you have a great time
during your sesquicentennial.
W.J. HUGHES Realty
Ltd.
Kingston St.. Godericlr