Village Squire, 1977-09, Page 17Doug Bartliff works with his two daughters Peggy Reid [beside him] and Kathy Bartliff [across table]
as they cut oatmeal cookies.
BARTLIFF'S BAKERY and RESTAURANT
More business may have been done over a cup of
coffee at Bartliff's than anywhere else in
Clinton. Cot,., rhe town get by without it?
BY DEBBIE RANNEY
Inside a busy restaurant (busy considering that it's two
o'clock on Monday afternoon and the people just keep
coming) people are being served. Off to one side a tempting
display case of baked goods catches the eye making it obvious
why Bartliff's Bakery and Restaurant has been in business for
75 years.
A few changes have taken place since 1902 when Doug
Bartliff's father started Bartliff's Bakery and Restaurant in
Clinton but after 75 years the place is still going strong.
Doug Bartliff's father started the business in 1902 but built
the present building in about 1906 or 1907. His father
continued the business until sometime in the 1920's at which
time he sold it and went to Vancouver. He later returned and
re -purchased the business and continued to operate it until
1946 when Doug and his two brothers took over.
Up until this time, Doug's father had just been delivering
with the use of a horse and wagon but the brothers expanded
the business with about eight delivery trucks. At that time
they delivered to the central part of Huron County, to farms
and stores. In 1973 they discontinued delivery and today
people just come in and buy the baked goods right there.
In 1975 the brothers sold the business but Doug stayed on
to help the new owner and in 1976 he bought the store back
again.
The business is jointly owned by Doug and his wife Helen
and the baking is done by Doug, a Dutch man that has been
working there for 26 years and Doug also tries to have an
apprentice baker on hand if possible. Doug's two daughters
also help with the baking.
The Bartliffs don't have as much equipment now as they
used to have either. All of their baking is done in one large
VILLAGE SQUIRE/SEPTEMBER 1977, 15.