Times-Advocate, 1988-11-02, Page 9Times -Advocate, November 2, 1988
Stores. with a past �9
in and a future
-By Yvonne Reynolds Twice.a welek Waghorn drives to hours wanting to buy something. Toronto before moving to their and rubber boots", the Boyes sell
Nostalgia isn't what it used to be, different wholesalers to pick up sup- "We would open up.�, We try not present Iccation. They are much videos and supplies for making
and neither are general stores. ; plies for the store•and special items to discourage anyone", Waghorn happier here. beer.
At one time every crossroads :'customers have ordered. It could be said. "I
wine and
trust The Varna post office is also lo -
n Toronto people don't
boasted its own emporium, usually a piece of plate glass, or a brass Waghom has just sold his bus -
accompanied by a hotel, a black- ' coupling. - fling business to Ray and Wendy
smith shop and a church. Many of "It's part of the job. If 'You want Venturin, who took over November
these establishments exist now only to make a business go, you work at 1. He will continue as postmaster,
in the pages of local history books, it", Waghorn remarked. dispensing mail and stamps from
but others are still thriving. One change over the years he the antique postal outlet with its
* • * * * notes is "Customers ,want more old-fashioned wicket find unique
Bob Sadler. is the fourth genera- specials now." The week's best combination -lock boxes at the back
tion of his family to run the .Staffa buys are listed on a prominently of the store.
General Store, and he will be the displayed blackboard near the front The Venturins obviously believe
last. - of the store. - in the future of the country general
Sadler recalls the glory days, Until moving ' into their new store. Originally from London,
when ' his family operated two house, the Waghorns occupied the they operated a general store at
stores, one at Staffa and one at Cro- living quarters that are part of the Sparta near St. Thomas before pur-
marty, and a truek which delivered - store. For the first few years, cus- chasing the Kirkton store.
groceries and picked up eggs: tamers would often come after "We like a small community.
We looked around and decided to lo-
cate here', Venturin said.
Customers were invited to drop
in, have a cup of coffee and meet
the new owner, on October 29.
1
Illlifli„
0°'
A,f�l�SII f
•
GENERAL STORE
J.A. SADLERSON
.►
* * * *
Young and Bo Park are another
young couple who trust general
stores have a future. They moved
from Toronto to buy the Edgewood
Groceteria at the intersection of-
Highway
fHighway 7 and Highbury Avenue
in March '86.
The Parks' customers can buy
groceries, heatth care products,
cards, magazines, work clothes, and
nails, bolts and other smaller hard-
ware items. Business really booms
in the summer; many travellers
stop in for ice cream andsoft
drinks. The demand for take-out
coffee keeps the coffeemaker going
year round.
The Parks ran a similar store in
Shirley Boyes (right) serves cus-
tomer Marjorie Hayter at Varna's
general store.
except for a three and one-half year
interval in the Canadian army dur-
ing World War 11.
"During that time, 1 had one
•
aBob Sadler (left) is the fourth gener-
ation to operate the Staffa general
store.
After 18 years at Kirkton, Bill Wag -
horn (left) has sold his store to Ray
Venturin (right) and wife Wendy.
Everything - flour, sugar, spices
cheese, dried fruits, cookies, coal oil
and molasses - came in bulk and had
to be packaged.
The country store even made the
big city newspapers once, when two
youths armed with a sawed-off shot-
gun robbed Sadler about 10 years
ago. The .thieves were never
caught.
Now the shelves arc slowly emp-
tying. The main draw these days is
the post office which has been part
of the store for many years, and
continues to serve 26 general deliv-
ery customers.
Sadler is still postmaster. He
doesn't know what will happen to
the postal service;•when he retires
completely; he only knows he can't
sell the post office as part of the
business.
* * * *
Bill Waghorn has been proprietor
of the general store at Kirkton for
18 years. The store had been closed
for a year and a half; then reopened
for a year before Waghom purchased
it in 1970.
"I had always wanted to be in
business for myself, and I liked
working for the public", Waghorn
explained.
Over the years, he gradually built
up the stock to offer a wide choice
of groceries, hardware, work
clothes, greeting cards and other
supplies.
Personal service has been a bonus
for those who shop at the store.
•
each other. Country pcoplc arc
warmer, more friendly, and there's
much less theft". Bo said.
"The country is better for kids",
his wife added.
The Parks agree running a coun-
try store is. hard work. They stay
open seven days a week, with assis-
tance from part-time help.
. "It's hard work, but someone has
to do_it", Bo said.
* *. *
Ed and Shirley Boycs took their
leap of faith three years ago when
they became owners of the general
store in Varna. -Ed was working at
the Blue Water. Centre near Code
rich, but the Boycs had dreamt of
having their own business.
Besides the groceries, "nails and
pails, shovels and rakes, work boots
ca • in the store.
The Boyes have no doubt their
store has a future, and so do they:
"We love it. We've never regret-
ted it", Shirley enthused.
* * * *
No story about general stores
would be complete without includ-
The day of
the
old-time
general
store is
not yet
past
ing Frayne's General Store owned
and operated by Stan and Marion
Frayne. Son David is now in
charge of the Hay post office,.the
oldest in Huron County, but Stan
still runs the store.
Fraync had been working on Exet-
er's main street for the Southcott
Brothers and their successors Gould
and Jory, first on Saturday nights
and then full time after leaving high
School. He was approached by the
owner of the north end store with an
offer to sell, and took over 34 years
ago.
Frayne has been (hareem since,
Stan Frayne is still serving custom-
ers with a smile from behind the
counter of Exeter's last general
store.
serving customers RO hours a week,
birthday in Canada, the next in Eng-
land, and the following ones in Italy
and Holland", Fraync recalled.
Frayne has noticed an - almost
complete change of customers.
Hank Green is the last of his gener-
ation to still come in for his mail,
as he has for the last 50 years.
Tastes change.. Younger people
eat out more, and want more con-
venience foods, Fraync reported.
This year for the first time he. is
filling his Jamaican customers' or:
ders by stocking chicken fcct,
cleaned and packaged and ready for
the soup kettle.-
The
ettle.The complementary blend of old
and new is best exemplified by a
marvelous old patterned tin ceiling
overhead and a digital scale on the
counter. The old-fashioned shelving
displays goods designed for the mi-
crowave oven. -
"This job has highoverhead and
long hours. It takes a couple, a
man and wife, and a lot of work",
Fraync said. Then he smiled and
gave the other side. "You meet so
many fine pcoplc. -Life has been
good."
Young and Bo Park are very glad they moved from Toronto and bought a general store at the corner of Highbury
and Highway 7.
•