The Citizen, 2017-04-06, Page 7THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2017. PAGE 7.
General store operated for more than a century
A fixture
Thirteen years ago the corner store in Londesborough closed its doors after, in one building
or another, the store was operated for more than a century.
PEOPLE AROUND
LONDESBORO
By BRENDA
RADFORD
Call
523-4296
CH considers
funding park
completion
By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen
Despite fundraising not being
quite where some hoped it would be
by now, Central Huron Council is
considering going ahead with its
Clinton park project in its entirety.
With some aspects of the park
prepared to go ahead and others
lagging behind, Deputy -Mayor
Dave Jewitt addressed the situation
at council's March 28 meeting in
search of fairness.
Jewitt spoke about the park during
the meeting's budget deliberations,
saying that aspects of the park, such
as the splash pad (which included a
large hike to the budget due to
extensive concrete infrastructure to
ensure accessibility requirements
are met), the gazebo and the
playground are set to be paid for out
of the budget, but the skateboard
park portion of the park is being left
behind.
He reminded councillors that the
concept for a community park at the
chosen Clinton site was first
proposed by motivated parents who
came to council with the concept for
a skateboard park. They said they
would raise the funds for the park,
but needed the municipality's help.
From there, other groups came
forward proposing a splash pad and
a new playground, all of which
transformed into the massive
concept of a joint community park
containing all three elements, plus a
Continued on page 19
Take care as you cross the bridge
south of the village as the spot
toward the centre has opened up
badly again.
One day it's very cold and damp
and then we have a beautiful day like
Sunday. Surely we can look forward
to more just like that. Snowdrops
and crocuses are doing their best to
cheer us up and trees are showing
buds. There are plenty of robins
about and I did spot a killdeer. The
(Photo submitted)
morning bird song is a real spring
treat. However I have yet to spot a
red -winged blackbird, which to me
is the real sign that spring is here.
In a previous column, I featured
Bill Wells' garage. I mentioned the
fire which destroyed that garage and
the general store that was on the
corner of Londesboro Road and
Highway 4. This picture was taken
in 1915 of that store. Notice in the
back/right the building which I
assume was the building Mr. Wells
eventually turned into his garage.
This general store was built on that
corner in 1877 by a Mr. Wallace.
Apparently there was a structure on
the site which he tore down. From
1880 until approximately 1916, a
W.L. Ouimette operated the store.
Although this picture shows the
store being handled by Morrell and
Holmes, they were only there for a
short time. The only name that
accompanied this picture that I
recognized was Bert Shobbrook
whom John and I decided must be
one of the children pictured.
James McCool was running the
business and the post office in the
building when it burned in the fire of
1939. The two-storey structure was
replaced by the red brick building
that is still there. McCool sold the
business to Robert and Audrey
Thompson in the mid-1950s. I
couldn't pin down the exact date as
the one in the Hullett Township
History book is wrong, by our
remembering.
Bill and Dorothy Sottiaux became
owners in 1973. The last owners to
operate a general store/post office in
the building were Tom and Dianne
Codyre. They were the owners who
raised the roof on the back portion of
the building to create living quarters.
The store closed 13 years ago. Terry
and Kim Greidanus own the building
now and rent out the apartment.
I have an account page from the
time of Morrell and Holmes and
noted that sugar sold for 50 cents
and bread for five cents and you
could buy a pair of slippers for
$1.35.
Speaking of business, Radford's
Farm Equipment has appreciated the
public adapting to some changes we
have made over the winter. You may
have found us closed for a short time
over the lunch hour some days and
FROM LONDESBORO
most days we have closed at five
o'clock. We will not be open
Saturdays this summer except for an
emergency or by prior
arrangement/appointment. We thank
you for your adaptability and
continued loyalty.
Londesborough United Church
will hold its annual Songfest the
evening of April 23. Featured this
year are Kindred Spirit (harpists and
singers from the Goderich area),
Audibly Awesome (Lobb family
from Clinton), the Londesborough
senior choir and two young
musicians, Aaron Matthews of
Goderich and Cassie Elliott of
Londesborough.
Motorcycle Chaps
Bainton's
Old Mill
Downtown Blyth
519-523-4740
Looking for local heroes
There are so many people out there who do
so much to improve their community.
Now you have a chance to say thanks.
Nominate that special person for the 32nd
Annual Citizen Citizenship Awards.
Each year a committee chooses an outstanding citizen from each of the Blyth and area
and Brussels and area communities to receive an award for contribution to the
community. If you know someone you think should be honoured, please fill in the ballot
and send it in. You may attach a longer explanation of why you think your nominee
should win, if you like. If you have nominated someone before and he or she didn't win,
please feel free to try again.
I nominate
as Citizen of the year for
Blyth Brussels
& area & area
I feel she/he deserves this award because
L
Nomination Deadline July 31, 2017.
Name and phone number of nominator