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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1983-07-20, Page 5people. iss food store BY SUSAN IINDERTMARK When the doors opened during the "Grand Opening" of MacRae's Market in Dublin a year and a half ago, a dream came trite for Pat and Mike MacRae. 4fter working for 13 years, in the business, including five as manager of Goettler's Red and White and four years as his own boss Mike MacRae opened his new store in 1981. But, that dream became a nightmare when a year later, they were struggling to keep the family business alive. After a final sleepless night, the grocery store closed its doors for the last time on May 13 to go into liquidation. "I didn't think 1 was going to make it through that day." says Pat MacRae. "We avoided closing as long as we could. It hurt personally to think we couldn't make a go of it.,. For close to six months before they closed the store, the MacRaes knew they were in trouble. Mike found a job at a grocery store in St. George. a rural community near Brantford to earn a second income to put some money into the dying store. A mild winter meant that potential shoppers were free to travel to the bigger grocery stores in Seaforth or Mitchell and sales were even down around Christmas. a usually good time for business. TERRIBLE "We tried for months to tell people that business was terrible. We had to let stock run down on the shelves but we still couldn't get the support we needed from the community to stay in business," she says; And now. although Mrs. MacRae insists Dublin is big enough to support a grocery store if tlw..whole community shops there, the village is suffering the inconvenience of being without a food store. "It's terrible." says Camilla Evans. "I've lived in Dublin for 57 years and this is the first time we've been without a store." Because she has no car, the 83 -year-old woman must ask, friends and relatives to pick up her groceries for her in town. "1 hate asking them but 1 still have a few friends and 1 send my lists with them when they go into town. it's a nuisance though because you can't stock up on bread and milk. 1 used to go to MacRae's every other day." she says. Since bigger stores can afford better sales. the people from Dublin shopped out of the village and the store couldn't compere. says Mrs. Evans. THEY WON'T COME "It's bad for the whole town. If people don't come here for groceries, they won't come at all," she says. Theresa Costello remembers a time when Dublin had four grocery stores which the area kept in business with. their large families. "But. people live differently now," she says. Since her brother goes into Mitchell every week. Mrs. Costello stocks upon groceries by using her freezer, but she agrees that she can't store some of the staples. "I miss it terribly. Now, 1 just do without some things, she says. Because there is no grocery store in town, Joan Cronin is afraid the village will die since seniors won't retire in a place where (hey can't get the nece sties. • A store is definite v needed in this village. 1t has everything you need but a store," she says. Though she has a car to get into town. Mrs. Cronin is also feeling the inconveni- ence of not beine close to a store. • MITCHELL OR SEAFORTH "There's nothing worse than making supper and running out of something and the closest store is in Mitchell or Seaforth," she says. While Matt McCreight, of McCreight Hardware, hasn't lost any business since the grocery store closed, he also misses it. "1 wish to God we'd get another one because we need one badly," he says. Whether a community the size of Dublin could support a grocery store is difficult to tell without a survey of the area, says Lloyd Ortelli, manager of the Toronto Dominion Bank in Mitchell. "It couldn't compete with stores the size of Staffen's or Superior but there might be room for a convenience store in Dublin," he says. If the residents of the Dublin area want a store. they should start talking about it and someone may decide to open a business there. he says. But, without community support, even a convenience store won't make it in Dublin, says Pat MacRae. 'Any individual can get in touch with 'large suppliers if they decide to take a risk and open a store. But, after exhausting all our finances into our store, 1 have one message for that person - 1 hope your bank account is fat." Brodhagen balloons get to New York fast Correspondent MRS. BWRMAN LEONHARDT 345-2419 Well girls and boys word has been rec ived -of the 200 or more Ballo ns launched at St. Peters' unday School picnic, Brodh gen, on June 26 in celebration of the 125th anniversary. Two people have replied so far, that they have found a balloon. They are Mrs. Ann 1poleto, 329 Patrice Terr., Williamsville N.Y. 14221 who found hers at her home on June 26. Norman K. Smith, Java Village N.Y. 14083 U.S.A., found his in the field on June 26. So these balloons were found the day they were released. Pastor Arthur "Horst says it's approximately 150 miles as the crow flys. These balloons sure didn't stop along the way, to be found that very day so far away. Hopefully there will he some more replies. The flowers on the altar in St. Peters' Lutheran Church on Sunday were in memory of Mrs. Martha Scherbarth who died one year ago, placed there by the family. The baskets of flowers in the chancel were from the funer- al of Mrs. Minnie Mogk, which was held on Friday. Pastor and Mrs. Arthur Horst returned home from 2 weeks at the Morgantown Appalachian Regional School for church leaders, at the University of West Virginia. In their absence Pastor Karl Schuessler was in charge of the church services. Expres- sions of sympathy are ex- tended to Glen and Elsie Mogk and family, in the loss .of a dear mother and grand- mother Mrs. Minnie Mogk. Seaforth firm gets tender Clara Meyer of Kitchener visited with her sisters, Marie Meyer and Minnie Leonhardt over the weekend. S Ever The intense'', heat wave la turning the wheat and barley a bright yellow, making it ready for harvest which is not far off. The corn and beans are looking better and the cucumber season will soon begin.. The strawberries are over for another year but the raspberries are now being picked. Some children are finishing their swimming 'les- sons while others are just wing to start. The stares have their spring and sum- mer apparel on sale as the fall and winter stock is going to be put out oil the racks. Recent visitors with Mrs. Marie Melady are Mrs. Edythe Murray of Palm Springs, California, Dr. Tom Melady, Goderitih, Sister Theodore Doyle, Chatham, Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Mayman and Nicole, Long Island, New York, Mrs. Beatrice Fadden, Mississauga, .and Mrs. Re- igina Maloney, Kitchener. Dubnet THE HURON P9'9017011, 'JULY 20, 1083 - A5 one is enloym the July heat 'VW • • • wave Mrs. Jean Dili, attended followed by, a s'Mass of Kingsbrid a MountCarnlel; you our congratulations •OA Thanks lying celebrated by iptoneter, ICipcardi, this cry qac 'Father ,l,L, O'Rourke Patrick's Pariah, Dubl reception followed a Mitchell and District munity Centre wit gue chcaer Waterloo Un area. To Marg and Ed and rs. Joe Delaney of the wedding of Jane Shackle- ton 'and PaptDill in Stratford on Saturday. Paul is the son 'el Mrs. Mary Dill and the late Kenneth Dill. On July 16 Mr. and Mrs. Ed Rowland celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary with a family dinner at home ��]] ' " is v s 141 ,occasion, t St. Goderieh, Llstowel, London, 'and we wish you many more a. A Walkerton, Sebringville, years of happiness.. the Edmiston,- Mission, B.C., Congratulations are ex- 'Cont- Niagara Falls, New York, tended to Jayne and Lucille sts Seaforth, Wilt hell and Dub- Delaney, 'daughters of Mr. from: Kit M Toronto, Kingston, Calibre- Rowland the people ofa the Dublin who took their grade ia, St. Marys, Stratford, community wish to extend to d vocal •examinations at the 'Toronto tory al A servo C,o Royal Pend P= dMusic on NAP P received Brat class honors, The giriav singing teacher. is Mrs. Joan Gaffney of 'Mit- dtell. Congratulations also to Mr. and Mrs. Tom O'Rourke on their recent marriage. Staffaladies plan attic, craft sale Mrs. Philip James hosted the July meeting of the Cromarty Ladies Aid at her home July 11. Roll call was answered by naming some- thing from your emergency shelf. Mrs. John Miller gave a report of the successful ham and strawberry supper,, The ladies aid will be wgqrk- ing with the Marion Ritchie Auxiliary to organize and plan the attic, bake and craft sale in October. Joint•services for Cromarty Presbyterian and Hibbert United Church were field ih Staffa, on Sunday at 11 a.m. with Rev. Ray Anderson in char,gge.-_ There will be no rvlce at either church July ?A, July 31, Aug. 7 and Aug. 14, but joint service will resume in Cromarty on Aug. 21 at 11:30 a.m. Relatives gathered on Sun - T YO coo day afternoon at the home of GGeeri Neilson. Darlene ex - Fay Martyn, Russeldale hon-; pressed her thanks to all. oring Darlene Templeman Mr. and Mrs. Lorne Fell, with a miscellaneous shower Sharon, Roger, Joyce and prior to her marriage pn Pauline, attended the Canad- Aug.6. Contests were enjoy- ian Seed Growers Associa- ed and an address in rhyme tion annual meeting in Que- prepared by Aunt Isabel bec 'City. One evening a Annis was read by 'Karen Mechorii (lamb barbecue) Templeman. Darlene was was enjoyed in the Military assisted in opening her gifts Armory near the Citadel. by Gertrude Kempston and Sharon and Joyce were a part PAY ONLY 100/o DOWN NO PAYMENTS NO INTEREST TIL MARCH .1984 of the entertainment per- forming several step -dance numbers. Miss Tammy Parsons. daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bill. Parsons, has returned from a two week stay in Quebec where she lived with a family as a student ex- change. Tammy will be host- ing a student from Quebec for 2 weeks. SUMMER CLEARANCE! DON'T BUY CENTRAL AIR CONDITIONING! BUY A YORK HEAT PUMP! HERE'S WHY. There was a large attendance at the Buck and Doe, for IvMlchael Scherbarth and Tra- cey Babb. YCM83207 • Maximum year-round cooling and heating efficiency • Home energy savings up to 50% and more • Convert from oil and,quality for a Federal Government grant of $800.00 WISE ENERGY CENTRE - Harold Wise Limited 262 BAYFIELD RD.INTON 482-7062 m. rington MAIN STREET SEAFORTH Fooamity twear 527-1110 THE NEW HURON EXPOSITOR AD TEAM A Scaforth firm has been awarded tenders for part of the repairs to St. Mary's Separate School in Goderich. At its July I I meeting. the Huron•Perth Separate School Board approved the tenders which Trustee Tim McDon- nell said were the lowest in each area, George Clement Masonry of Bayfield will do the brick/ replacement al a tender price of 19,000. Thackery Roofing Co, Ltd. of Kitchener will replace the roof at a tender price of 189.466. Hildebrand Paint and Paper of Seaforth will do the painting at a tender price of 53.485 and Rosman Drywall and Acous- tics Ltd. will construct the interior partition at a cost of 52.315. RON GROULX JANET MacDONALD save up to save up to save up to The Huron Expositor is pleased to announce the appointment of Ron Groulx as advertising sales representative. 1 Ron joins Janet MacDonald on the Expositor ad team and they both look forward to assisting Seaforth, Brussels and area merchants with their advertising needs. per pair off regular price Inglis quality washer t dryer combinations offer total convenience:11as1bIlity, simplicity and reliability. • off regular price Inglis refrigerators are available at fantastic savings Inc wide variety of models and sizes. • off regular price Inglis ranges offer out. standing performance end greet savings tool off regular price Soper savings on 1 1