HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1988-04-19, Page 25blishod tradition of
WWI ty COntinies this week in
Winglaant With the grand reopening
Of the Walter's department store.
Jason Ainslie took OverOrterehiP
of the business from G0F141014 Mary
Walter earlier this year; but the
stem itself has a much longer
history, known first. as the King
store and then Edighoffer's. In his
be* Museum Musings, the late
John Pattison provides a detailed
history of the store known today as
Walter's.
For many years the store was
owned by the King family. Mr.
Pattison's book says George T.
King, a native of York County who
moved to Bluevale as a child,
decided to enter the mercantile
business after teaching for several
years.
Mr. King originally went to work
in the early 1890s with T. A. Mills,
who had his store in the building
where the Wingham Advance -Times
now stands. By 1892 Mr. King opened
his own store where Vance's Drug
Store is now located, stocking dry
00000, Proced
readrmade clot
carpets. Mr,
Museum Musiaiga th
in wool, butter and
trade.
Business was botalling
Ilomuth and Bowlesnt_oVedl 9
the Beaver Block (the entreat
location of Walter's) in 1895, Mr
King movedinto the larger store.
When Mr. King died in 1907, the
business was carried on by -his
estate. In 1910, when the Wingham
Times moved out of rooms on the
second floor of the block, the King
store moved in. The next year
Thomas and Robert, Mr. King's
sons, took over the business and it
became King Brothers.
A fire started in Knox Jewellery to
the south of the King store on March
2, 1912 and destroyed the Beaver
Block. In his book Mr. Pattison
reports Kings lost $27,000 in stock
and carried $14,000 insurance.
At once the Kings rented the
empty Griffin store across the street
and put in new stock. They con-
structed a new, two-storey, red brick
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respected man inthe -Oraililmt
Ms store was known for quality
products, accord to Mr. Pat-
'Won's book, ,varying from dry
goods, ladies' and men's wear, home
furnishings and floor coverings.
The tradition of taking butter and
eggs for cash or trade was continued
until the grocery department was
phased out.
Following the death of Thomas
King in 1936, his son George and
daughter, Mrs. Borden (Mary)
Spears, took over the operation of
the store. After George died in World
iiisalled the *Ica**,
Se* Ran later, in 1961, the
store s ,moke damage from a
fire in the bledf tte the north, the
same fire which destroyed the
Dominion Store, Bondi's Foodland
and damaged Dunlop Shoes.
It was after the fire that the store
was renovated with a new floor',
fixtures and modern lighting.
Mr. and Mrs. Walter worked hard
to uphold the tradition of quality
established in the business when
Jayad
He hastiladet*..few cosmetic
charges. FOr exaMplO, the yarniki$
have been expanded and he may
renovate the fitting .0)OnIS ID the
future. He also stockscostume
jewelery.
Mr. Ainslie intends to continue
with the same basic principles of
good, friendly service and a quality
product which served the Waiters so
well and the Edighoffers and the
Kings before them.
MODERN STORE — A London firm, Hobbs .Glass Ltd., , did this
stylized design for the front of the King Department Store in Wing.
ham away back in 1947. At the time the store was owned by a Mr.
Wineburg of Chatham and managed by.Amos Garrett.
JASON AINSLIE, new owner of Walter's, left, with former owners Mr and Mrs. Gord Walter.
toWliksassetinammiatio*
fSecret &Whisper Ts
11; Panty Hose g
FOR $ 001
(1 dozen limit)
4‘,4414,41
TilOUSarldS DatiarS r
GRAND RE -OPENING
00 GIVEAWAYS
• Tan Jay & Alia outfits
ummer dresses by
1. • Ss
Leslie ?Ale
• Tops 111. sweaters • Arrow shirts and SINGaterS
tor men and much morel
Manufacturer's
Showroom Samples
/988 SPRING &
for WinFALL FA
A first gham With a.fu rangeSHIONS
d styles of colours
an
% OFF
EVERYTHING aSE IN THE STORE
NOW OPEN MONDAYS
Daily 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Friday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
"The Friendly Store" WOMEN'S FASHIONSSTYLES For Men
Josephine Street, WINGHAM
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