HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1980-12-24, Page 112 THE HURON EXPOSITOF DECEMBER 24 1980
the OM of year when children bury their hoses in
the' so.called "Christmas Wish book" and tally Um lists of
•the Mercbandisolhey hope a bearded visitor will deposit
under the Christmas tree, We noticed in one letter to
Santa, (sent via our 'office), the writer had
thcnightfully provided the page numbers in the catalogue
Incase Santa and his crew weren't quite sure where they'd ,
locate the desired objects.
The catalogue has been a Canadian tradition since 1884,
when former Kirkton resident Timothy Eaton printed a
small, 32 -page booklet listing the merchandise available in
his store at 190 Yonge Street, Toronto. This he distributed
at the Toronto Industrial Exhibition, and the response Was
overwhelming.
. In no time, the storekeeper was so swamped by orders
from his new merchandising tool, he was forced to open a
special mail order department which employed one woman
to select the rnerchandise from stock and a schoolboy to
wrap the parcels for mailing. Little did Mr. Eaton realize
he was starting a new business technique - selling goods
by mail - which would provide hours of delight for
armchair shoppers, many of them the pint -size -variety.
--WoiTv-TinititiffElifolilirifSelf %Va.§ I -bit' tharater as
far as fellow retailers were concerned. He had started his
sales career in the village of Kirkton (you can see the
SPECIAL CHRISTMAS
SWIM TIMES
3:00 to 4:30 p.m.
Mon. Dec. 22, Tues. Dec. 23
Wed. Dec. 24, Mon. Dec. 29, Tues. Dec. 30
Plus regular swim times
Closed Wed. Dec. 24 evening,
Thurs. Dec. 25, Fri. Dec. 26,
Wed. Dec. 31 evening, Thurs. Jan. 1/81
Merry Christmas and
Happy New Year to all oiir friends
and patrons from
Vanastra Centre Staff.
NOTICE To
SNOWMOBILERS
Snowmoblling is PROHIBITED on the
Seaforth Golf Course this year.
SEAFORTH
GOLF COURSE LTD.
J01
LOVE
ahliP UNITED
W TRAILS
Seoforth INC. 5271 222
77,
Serendipi y
by 'Alice Gibb
history plaque in the village park) but in 1869, after move
to the city, opened his first store at the .corner of nge
and Queen Streets in Toronto, well -removed frput the
much more fashionable King Street shopping diStric of
the day.
What made Mr. Eaton an oddity was is peculiar
demand that goods would only be sold for cas1 and ot fixed
prices. There would be absolutely no credit d absolutely
no bargaining!
Now merchants of the day, from baker to candlestick
makers, all sold on credit, collecting their accounts
quarterly or twice a year. Furthermore, a customer never
paid the price on a sales tag - rather, you dickered until a
compromise price was reached. Despite predictions of
doom, Mr. Eaton remained fin* in his resolve. He'd
refund money if goods weren't satisfactory, but only cash
transactions would be considered.
SECOND TO BIBLE - -
The early Eaton's catalogues (which appeared long
before those of their compe+;,ig chain), probably took
second place on to the Bible ; Canadian. homes. Families
would spend long winter nights reading the catalogue by
the light of an oil or gas lamp. Children cut paper dells
from the catalogtie, sometimes learned to read by
matching words to pictures, and often finally put the
catalogue to one final use in the outhouse.
Leafing through a copy of the 1901 catalogue is a journey
back in Canada's past.
For example, women shoppers were tempted by ladies'
walking and bicycle skirts, which were available from
$1.50 for the plain serge to $13.50 for the elegeant "finely -
tucked taffeta silk skirt."
As the catalogue was quick to point out, "there is no
need to be bothered with dressmaker's worries when you
get dresses like these, ready made."
Men's suits of the day sold for the remarkable pike of
$5 to $16 and a clergyman could buy his long -coated suit
for $18 and it was made from "imported black Venetian
finished worsted."
If you could plan your family bereavements ahead of
time, both mourning veils and widows' caps could be
ordered from Mr. Eaton.
Shoes started at 20 cents for young childrens' mocassins
and the fanciest mens' shoes, made with "tan willow
calfskin" sold for 33 a pair.
Oddly enough, bibles, hymn. and prayer books were
ordered from a catalogue page facing guns, rifles and
ammunition. If you couldrit get a man by religion. then the
suggestion seemed to be. try something stronger!
THOSE SCHOOLD TEXTBOOKS
School textbooks were ordered from the catalogue, as
well as maga2ine subscriptions. Leading publications of
the day included .St. Nicholas Magazine. Young Ladies
Journal, Success and Cosmopolitian - although it had a
slightly different philosophy in'its early days!
Now one of the more interesting sections of the early
catalogue was the drug deparment. You could purchased
every kind of acid by mail, as well as poisons from
chloroform to the more romantic belladonna. It's little
wonder so many people died mysteriously in Canada's
earlier days.
Herbs, barks and rots were also available for the
asking- from skunk cabbage, cinnamon bark or powder to
dandelion and rue.
The patent medicines were also a delight- especially the
descriptions invented by early advertisers. For example.
beef. iron and wine. strictly a medicinal preparation. was
"a combination of the finest extract of beef with iron, fine
sherry wine. and aromatics, making one of the nicest and
most effectual stimulating tonics and builders that it is
possible to make. '•
Over the years. as Canada and its people became more
urbanised. we gradually reduced our orders by mail.Even
in more is.:ated outposts. the airplane made city stores
more accessible.
MESili17
Li)liaZITISTta
Firemen out to
Brucefield home
The volunteer firemen
were called out twice on
Saturday- at noon to the
home of Mr and Mrs. Mery
Falconer ofvft.R. 4. Seaforth
If we could. we'd go around a'carolling:
"We Wish You A Merry Christmas!"
Best wishes to our loyal fans
The Bad News Beavers
Watch for our big 1981 Season!
when one upstairs bedroom
was destroyed mid also
smoke and water damage. In
the evening the home of Mr.
and Mrs. John Coultis of
Varna was completely gutted
while they were away
shopping.
Jane Allan of Wilfred
Laurier University. Waterloo
is spending the holidays at
the home ,if her parents Mr.
and Mrs Robert Allan.
Miss Joyce Broadfoot and
Mr. Sari% Broadfoot are
holidaying at the home of
their parents Mr. and Mrs.
Robert Broadfoot.
Mrs Aldie Mustard is able
to be home from Ointori
Hospital improved in health.
Mr. Wesley Ham of
Huntsville and son John of
U of T. Toronto visited with
Mrs. A. Ham and Miss M E.
Swan.
CHRISTMAS UM
MEETING
Stanley ,n 't of the U.C.W.
held their tt.. hristmas meeting
on Dec. 1Th beginning with
a pot -luck- dinner at 12:30.
Mrs. Ruby Triebner gave the
narration for a skit assisted
by Mrs. Marjorie Caldwell.
Mrs. Evelyn McBeath and
Mrs. Doreen Baird. Mrs.
Pearl Eyre read the
Christmas story from Luke 2.
Mrs. Isabel Scott gave the
meditation during which
several carols were sung with
Mrs. Pearl Maleath at the
piano. The treasurer Mrs.
Jean Henderson gave her
•report and Mrs. Reta Baird
the card report.
The next meeting will be
the last Wednesday in
Tann, 1981
In 1976.$, thc Batons' catalogue became a mentdry,
'. although its cOMpetit or and other companies are still
producing Wish books- which mean a many'of us can still
spend long hours over the catalogue, 4pending,iinaginary
funds on purchases we'll often never buy. "
To think tbe whole idea was likely spawned in Kirkton!
•' •*****
Deaf -Santa:
• Please Make Setendipity readers continue to phone in or
send in or bring in ideas for fhture columns on some of the',
more intriguing happenings in Seaforth's and the area's
past. I Al running out of ideas.
Also, please forget the ermine and mink-trifnmed fur
coat idea I whispered in your ear recently. I've decided
- destroying sniall, fur -bearing animals simply for my
personal enrichment isn't really practising good con-
servation
I'll leave out cookies and milk on Christmas Eve, but if I
were you, Pdstay clear, of the chocolate chip ones - I seem
to have omitted one of the key ingredients.
I hope you have a happy holiday season, Santa and that
Serendipity readers have the same.
Alice
•
Wishing you joy!
Church -Home
Anticitic
ilkir Peter and Janis Bisback, Rensall
262-2192
0.
MERRY 'CHRISTMAS
05 0 °
"0.4NDOWAINC°G.INTRY '
' Ankle Biters'. ' 1 54
. ro. fiTE0p7s,..,„,-.
,Qug,rs.., 52
, 50
Hush Pupfries
North Sta s 38
14
NiLPaWdieadsfir
Waders
3
igh Single, T' ipIe6,
'Average, 264, 589, 194.
, helen's High Single, Triple,
Average 266, 775; 226—
• • Y.B.C.
, STANDING
Best Bowlers 40
Thunderbirds 37
The Bennys 39
Pyramids 32
Strikers 30
Ally Cats 43
Jeff Boyle 209, 519; Elaine
Palin 183, 402:
STANDINGS
Liteweights
Highlanders
The Winners
Tryhards
Shoguns
Buggy's
High Single Joan
231, Don Eaton 309.
High Triple Joan Eaton
622, Al Smale 665.
41 -
40• ,
37
32
29
Eaton'
00*0 0.00 00 ° °
° .iyae hoape.yotos h:are a rollicking
luettlay: bursting with
0
.° bubbly spirits
and happy times.
00 0° 0 0
0
0
ne dazzling star
guided the Wise Men
to Our Saviour on
that holy night, so long ago.
• MERVYN LEONHARDT
Plumbing & Heating
Brodhagere 345-2430
'
The biggest inside car
showroom in Huron County
We have an excellent selection to
choose from - no need to "s-tand out in
the cold wintery weather
GET IN ON THE ACTION
WITH A HOT NEW NUMBER!
N
interest
4 POINTS LESS THAN ANYONE ELSE.
On all new 980 & 1981 cars & trucks.
EED USED TRUCKS
McLaughlin
CHEVROLET—OLDS LTD.
HOURS MON—FFII
527-1140.
Service Department 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
111111111111111111111111011111.1111
Sates Office- 7:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m.
Sat. 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Service Selection Saving Satisfaction Leasing
Seaforth