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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1978-04-27, Page 28You can have your own home -That homy; you dream about is now within your reach --all yours to enjoy while its investment value keeps growing over the years. Get it with the help of a Victoria knd Grey mortgage—built to fit your need and your purse. Do it today at Victoria and Grey. TIC ORIA and GREY TRUST COMPANY SINCE 1899 Manager A.A. Weatherby 524-7301 Gederich Artioarftroleat • PAGE 10A--GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY„ APRIL 27, 1978 Neighborhood convenience store can't compete BY SHARON DIETZ The country stores which sold everything from long johns to fresh apple cider to nuts and bolts and shovels are few and far between. The urban areas have seen their local general store replaced by Beckers and Mac's Milk and it only in the rural areas, miles from a city, that the country store can still be found in a tiny corner village. But, an inability to compete with the prices of the grocery and hardware chains in the nearby large town and the refusal by the distributors and wholesalers to make delivery, is causing the country store to .close for the final time. The St. Augustine store is holding a "Going out, of business sale" and its owners, Glenn and Margaret McConnell, have mixed feelings about closing the business they have operated for the past five years. They enjoy owning and operating a small business they moved. from Shelburne to buy. They like the friendly people they have come to know since moving here, and their children like it so well, they will 'likely remain in the community after they close the store. They would like to sell the store and if, they do they will buy a house and perhaps, some property in the area but, if they cannot sell the store, they plan to live in the house and convert the storefront to living quarters. The McConnells have found that their business is too small to encourage delivery from wholesalers and distributors. When they first took over the store,• milk was delivered twice a week and then it was changed to delivery once a, week and now the dairy wants them to drive into Goderich and pick up the milk. TOO MANY BISCUITS The straw that broke the camel's back was McCormack's decision not to make• delivery unless there was an order of $150. "An order of biscuits, that large, would last for almost a year," says Margaret. If all the people in the store's area would shop there for their groceries, the business would do well, says Margaret, but people would rather drive to Goderich where the prices are cheaper and the selection larger. There are no regular shoppers at the store. People use it as a convenience store for things they forgot to buy in town or when they want to charge something. Some still use the store as a bank to cash a cheque. The St. Augustine store has been closed Saturday and open Sunday because thepeople in the area ap- preciated the service on Sunday when other places are closed. It will be a change for Margaret, who has operated the store whileher husband works out. She has been tied to the house by the store but plans to fined a job after the store closes. They had hoped when they moved to St. Augustine that the store would provide their livelihood, but Glenn has worked out since the fourth month after they took over the business. There is the possibility that the future will re-create a dependence on the local general store as gasoline and oil prices make it too expensive to drive into town to shop for groceries. If this should happen, people will want a store in their area but the country stores will all be gone by then, because they cannot compete now. • TRADITION ENDED There has been a store in St. Augustine since before the turn of the century. Brennans owned it in 1900 and there are three known previous owners, although the McConnells have been unable to learn when they each had the business. Gus McGuire, Jim Brophy and Charlie Moss owned the store prior to the Brennans. Mike Beuniger ran a creamery in Dungannon and his wife ran the store after •Brennans had it. The Post Office was in a house on the corner beside the store and later in the store. McConnell's tore down the house beside them last year after buying it from, ..carolyn O'Niel, Goderich. After the B.eunigers sold the store it remained in the Boyle family until McConnells bought it. John Boyle bought it from Beunigers, and then William Boyle owned it. Gus Devereaux bought the store from William Boyle. Gus and his wife, Mary Boyle Devereaux, owned the store for 24, years and they sold it to the McConnells. Like the death of the family farm, storekeepers are no longer a family profession. Several stores in the area, including the ones in St. Helens, Holyrood, Benmiller and St. Augustine, - are owned by people whoJlived in the city and moved to the village to own and operate a small business. But the inability to compete with the buying power of the large food:. chains and the automobile society in which people drive to shop, may wipe away the country store, despite the enthusiasm of the small businessman. 0 60 Christian Reformed choir entertains Members of the congregation of the Clinton Christian Reform Church formed a choir for the Sunday evening song service at Huronview led by Dick Roorda. Molly Cox, Norman Speir and Cecil Skinner provided the Old-Tyme music for •Monday's program • of Huronview. The Goderich Township Women's Institute volunteers assisted with the activities. Doug McNall and Dave Sherman from the Kirkton area entertained with a musical program on Family Night at Huronview. The entertainers provided their own guitar accompaniment •and sang" several familiar songs and requests, including the Blyth Centennial song. Miss Pearl Gidley expressed the appreciation of the Huronview residents, The Belgrave Women's Institute were hosts for the April Birthday Party of Huronview last Wednesday 1 afternoon. Mrs. Mary Wightman was emcee for the party and introduced the following program. There were musical numbers by Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Edgar, step -dancing •by Colleen Edgar, vocal solos by Clarke Johnston, piano solos by Steve Coultes and Donna Higgins, reading by Mrs. Scott, Mrs. Nicholson and Paul and Mark Coultes. Mrs. Glenn Coultes led a sing -a- long accompanied at the piano by Mrs. Norman Coultes. The' birthday celebrants were presented with a lovely carnation by the Institute and lunch was served by the ladies. Mrs. Cornish, who celebrated .her 88th .birthday on April 18, thanked all those who had helped with the party. SOUTH HURON RECREATION CENTRE EXETER Chris tiahschool PTA hears from consultant The semi-annual meeting of the Parent and Teachers Association of the Clinton and District Christian School was held on April 10th in the Christian Reformed church hall. The meeting was chaired by Mrs. Grace Hamming of Blyth and it featured as guest speaker Mr. John Struik, Community Consultant for Salem. Salem is a mental health out-patient clinic in Rexdale, Ontario. Supported by in- terested Christian groups, as well as by the Christian Reformed Church through an interdenominational board, Salem attempts in its area to nurture mental health and mental stability. As a Community Con- sultant for Salem, Mr. Struik travels throughout Ontario and Eastern Canada speaking to interested groups. He provides family and individual therapy at the clinic. Mr. Struik • spoke to an enthusiastic assembly of, parents and teachers on the appropriate topic "Under- standing our • Children and Young People." When interviewed as to the purpose of the meeting, one of the teachers explained that, "It has always been one of the goals of our Christian homes and therefore our Christian schools to teach a Christian life style, Christian virtues, and in general •to encourage in our children, hearts directed to Christ. The teacher went on to explain, "The problems begin when we as parents and our children try to implement that life style. Our peers and Turn to page 1 1 A • Prescription Service NAKAMURA PHARMACY Suncoost Mall, Goderich DELIVERY SERVICE 524p2195 I GUPJ uN DRUGS OPEN WEEKDAYS 10 - 12, 12:30 - 6:00, 6:30 • 9:00 SATURDAYS 10 - 6 CLOSED HOLIDAYS AND SUNDAYS We welcome you to a "Musical • Concert 11 with "THE SINGING DEWEYS" of Nashville at Bethel Pentecostal Tabernacle • GODERICH, ONTARIO WEDNESDAY, MAY 3rd at 7:30 p.m. Everyone Welcome ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE 10 PLEASE HELP j 00 THE RED SHIELD APPEAL GODERICH BLITZ MAY 8th • Roar into spring where the customer is King! Goderich Sunset Golf & Sports Centre DRIVING RANGE NOW OPEN (Until Saturday, April 29 please phone ahead - 524-8047) GOLF COURSE OPENS SATURDAY, APRIL 29 We've renovated...come out and see our new look! MEMBERSHIP CAMPAIGN Now in full swing - If you join now, you will receive a 10% GIFT BONUS from our Pro Shop plus save 50% on all driving range purchases until May 21st. In our business the customer is King! PRO SHOP SPECIALS Save 20% and mare on all our Pro Shop specials. for the Good Lile Goderich Sunset Golf St Sports Centre 4 M11e% north of Goderich on Hwy 71 near Point Farms Provincial Park — 524-1047 or 524.79411