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The Brussels Post, 1977-02-23, Page 4NI 0 R Listowel rt. C. smut for dinner on his route at John Scott's on the 6th line of East Wawanosh and fed and rested his horses there. These grocery wagons performed a real service to the farm people of the area. • Robert Munroe took over the store and post office 1917 - 1923. He also carried on the tradition of the grocery wagon. The store in this period echoed with lively chatter of children as he had a family of five girls and two boys. Dan Geddes became the owner and postmaster 1923 - 1927, but he brought groceries to the farm people in a closed grocery truck and was assisted by Frank Sturdy and Leslie McDougall. In the ownership of W.J. Cole 1927 - 1936, the groceries were only sold in the store. The store and position of postmaster passed on to James Taylor in 1936. He died in 1939 and Mrs. Taylor and Lilla carried on the business till 1941 with Lilla as post mistress. Then Thomas B. Johnston, popularly known as T.B. became owner and post master from 1941 1945. In all these years, the store was a very busy place serving the needs of the community for people were not inclined to travel far for their supplies and in winter the village store filled a real service. Clarence Hanna of Listowel in 1945 purchased the store and also because postmaster and mailman of the rural route for the next eighteen years - the longest ownership in the life of the store. Roy Charles bought the store in 1963 but sold it to the present owner Amos Smith in 1964. He too served for some years as postmaster and mailman. Mrs. Clarence Hanna was post mistress from 1972 - 1976. The post office was moved last June 23 to the home of Robert Procter on the east side of the village. The community have many fond memories of this building and regret the loss it has meant to its owner Amos Smith. He, in this age when country general stores have suffered from the competitions of larger business, has kept alive the tradition of friendly and helpful service which has been a tradition of this store down through the years. The children of the community will always remember Amos with his lollipops and kindly interest in them. Compiled by Mrs. Walter Scott If anyone knows any additions or corrections to this history, the Belgrave Tweedsmuir Committee would be glad to have them. HAYWARCYS Discount -- Variety Cosmetics Tobacco Patent Medicines Groceries and Stationary Weekdays 9-9 Holidays & Sundays 12-6 Appliance Va ues 20-lb. Permanent Press Automatic Washer and Dryer WASHER LWA 2040 DRYER CDE 2040 The pair *Giant 20 lb. capacity *20 lb. capacity *Pampers permanent press *Dual cycle selection •Turbosweep 202 agigator 'Large lint filter "4 way washing action *Large door opening *6 cycles - 2 speeds 'Pampers permanent press •Rinse dispenser 04 position heat selection $429. $299. SPECIAL 10 No Charge for Colour lisafo~wehOnfHiio 'T. A1-3110 rood piitf H4. 23 5 el iheii on Fight 3 I „ . Highway.% last Merwood Smith Ltd. Fire destroys Belgrave store. (Continued from. Page 1) discussion on current issues was argued on the store bench. Down through the years, it has been a store where you always felt welcome, regardless of the size of your purchase - or if you were just "Visiting or Waiting." The site of this store has 1igured, in Community life since 1856 when Edmund Foley bought three-quarters of an acre of land on the northeast corner of the farm of James Owens. He built a log Tavern here to serve as a stopping place for the settlers coming into the area. Dennis Haggerty became the landlord and the location became known as Haggerty's Corners. In a few years, Wm. Morris of Scottish ancestry, bought the tavern and the Irish name vanished. The tavern was later destroyed by fire. At this time the needs of the village were served by a store and post office on the site of Ross McEwen's General Store. Around 1882 the population of Belgrave was coming to its peak so Morley Tufts felt that another General Store would be profit- Bluevale Correspondent Mrs. Joe Walker 357-3558 Seven tables played euchre in the Bluevale Community Hall, Thursday evening with Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Timm and Mr. and Mrs. Murray MacFarlane in charge. Those winning prizes were: High Man - Carl Frieburger; High Lady - Mrs. Stanley Moffatt; Low Man - Bruce Campbell; Low Lady - Mrs. Wes Paulin; Lucky Draw - Victor Baaker. Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Sellers and Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Warwick will be in charge. Rev. R.H.Armstrong, Interim moderator presided for the annual meeting of Knox Presbyterian Church, Bluevale, Wednesday, February 14 and opened with Psalm 121, followed by prayer. Following the reading of the minute of the last annual meeting and reports of all organizations of the church for the year. The clerk of 1,ession, Ross Gray reported eight new members received in the year.Three were removed by certificate and two by death, leaving a total of 126 members at the present time. All organizations reported had a successful year. Student minister, Wayne Basawick was thanked for his pastoral services throughout the year and voted a raise in salary. Three new members were appointed on the managing board, Bernard Thomas, Jack. Shaw and Fraser Haugh. All other officials were re-elected. Rev. Armstrong was moved a vote of thanks for duties during the year and given a cheque. A social hour was enjoyed. Personals Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Corrigan on the birth of their daughter and to Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Schmidt on the _birth of their son, both in Wingham and District Hospital. Mr. and Mrs. Murray McFarlane, Scott and Jennifer, Marie Walker and Dayle Fischer spent the weekend with Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Brewer and family at Milton. Mr. Blake Carter was nn charge of the service in Knox Presbyterian Church, Bluevale, Sunday. Mr. Wayne Baswick was in Mississauga. able. He built the combined frame store and house we knew on the site of that first log tavern. In a front cornet, was a section for a post office. Mr. Tuft's wife Sarah be ,came the post mistress in the new location. She held the office from 1882 - 1901 and also carried on much of the business of the store. On the north side of the store, a wooden stairway of some 30 or 35 steps led from the ground level to the upper floor where Mrs. Tuft and Mrs. ,Lobb carried on the dressmaking trade. At some early period, Mrs. Thomas (Alice Stonehouse) Nixon trained girls in the art of dressmaking here. This stairway was torn down some years later. Through the years, other additions were made to the back of the store. Around 1900 the business was sold to A.E. Erskine, who by 1901 sold it to David Sproat and his partner William K. Whaley. Many older residents have fond memories of the store. Mr. Sproat served as the postmaster from 1901 - 1910. He was a man who was loved in the community. He and his wife were noted for their hospitality and were pleased to do anyone a favour. Many weary people driving a horse and buggy from one town to another were given a meal or a night's lodging. His popular partner William K. Whaley travelled about the community with a covered grocery wagon drawn by a team of horses. You could buy a goodly supply of merchandise from this wagon ranging from licorice for the children to vinegar and yards of print. He bought eggs from the • farmers at 8c a dozen in exchange for their purchases. Andrew Taylor owned the store from 1911 - 1917 and also became the postmaster. He also had a travelling grocery wagon. One resident recalls that he stopped Use this coupon to subscribe to The Brussels Post MEP The Brussels Post I BRUSSELS Please enter my subscription to The Brussels Post . Start with the earliest possible issue. In Canada $ 8 yearly 0 Elsewhere $14 yearly 0 Payment enclosed Send bill 0 NAME ADDRESS CITY & PROVINCE POSTAL CODE • Box 50 4—THE BRUSSELS POST, FEBRUARY 23, 1977.