The Past
Businesses
~ Bakeries
~ Banks
~ Blacksmiths
~ Drug store
~ Gerlib's
Store
~ Hardware Stores
~ ~ Central
Hardware
~ ~ Interview with Dorothy Ward
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~ Sure
Crop Feed
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Dorothy Ward worked as a
clerk for Central
Hardware from 1949-71. Her first boss was Mr. McMahon, from 1949-51; then Mr. Samol
for a few months; Mr. Hassard, who drowned; then his wife Mary, who took it over till
1953; Mr. Farr 1953-62; and Mr. Matejka from 1962-72. Dorothy wasn't just a clerk - she
helped out all over the store with whatever there was to be done. The hardware store went
through different names as it changed owners several times. When Mr. McMahon was the
owner, it was called McMahon Hardware, then Enderby Hardware, Farr Hardware and finally
Central Hardware.
When Dorothy first started working, Mr. McMahon had a 14 foot ceiling and ladder tracks.
They sold glass, and they also had a tin shop. The working conditions were "really
good" according to Dorothy, except that they froze in the winter (it was really cold
in the back of the store). They used an oil barrel for a heater. The Hardware store was
the only store in town that had naphtha gas for lanterns. The people brought cans to put
the gas in.
In the 1950's the Hardware store was changed. They put in a furnace and a low ceiling.
Cliff and Patsey Farr took over in 1953 and made all the changes. It was "totally
different," said Dorothy.
Donovan Imbeau, Danielle Heape
ALF School 1989