HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1979-06-28, Page 50PAG! is
General store
is a village institution
Mr. and Mrs. Ross
Robinson purchased the
general store in Auburn
from -Mrs. Gordon Taylor
in 1967.
Ross and Marg, .who
came from Belgrave, saw
an ad for the store in the
newspaper. Ross' mother
was from Auburn, so they
knew the , village and
wanted to come to it.
They have made several
improvements in the
building.
The store, situated on
the corner of Goderich
and King Streets, was`
originally a carpenter
shop built by James L.
Young. It was remodelled
into,a store and
residece.
The main store was
built first and the flat roof
part afterwards. It was
sold to Louis Wettlauffer,
then to W.T. Riddell
about 1895. Riddell did a
flourishing general store
business for 30 years.
The business was
purchased by J. Taylor
and his son, Gordon in
1925. Alfred Asquith
bought the flour and feed
business in 1932. 'A Store
at your Door' service was
carried on from 1933 to
1946 by Kalmer K.
Dawson and later Gordon
Dobie.
In 1934, the father and
son Taylor partnership
was dissolved and
Gordon carried on the
business. A government -
approved egg -grading
station opened in 1942 and
by 1947, about 75,000 eggs
were handled.
The store, store room,
and home were badly
damaged by fire in 1949.
It was brought under
control by Auburn, Blyth,
Clinton and Goderich fire
brigades. Taylor carried
on his business in the
Orange Hall until
Christmas when the store
and home had been
rebuilt.
Because many far-
mers were giving up the
poultry business, the egg
grading station was
discontinued in 1955.
After the death of
Gordon Taylor,,. in
February, 1"967, Mrs.
Taylor carried on until
September 1, 1967 when
she sold to Mr. and Mrs.
Robinson.
W. T. Riddell's wagon around 1900
•
This photograph of Jim and Tom Johnston in front of their hardware store
was taken some time during the '30's.
Johnstone own store for years
from page 16
on a flourishing business
with the hardware, coal
business, service station
and garage. In 1927,
Hydro became available
in Auburn and Jim
Johnston did a great deal
of electric wiring,
plumbing, and furnace
installation.
After his father's death
in 1950, Tom Johnston'
continued the business. In
1969, after 51 years of
business, he sold to Mr.
• • • •
and Mrs. Elmer Trom-
mer, of Hespeler. In
1971, Trommer's son
William took over the
garage work.
Jim and Dorothy
Schneider bought the
business January 1, 1978.
koss and Marg Robinson, owners and proprietors of Auburn's General
Store.