The following is an excerpt from an article in the Bruce County Historical Society Yearbook from 1975, entitled "Life And Times of Frank Carter, 1853-1941", by Doris Tucker Pennington. It is fairly long, but it gives quite an insight into what a small town general store was like in the early part of the 20th century. Thanks to the society for permission to reprint it here. (I have made several minor changes for clarity.)
They rented this store on Queen Street (where Linda's Barber Shop now stands) for six years and then built a new store on the site of a burned out business (where Paisley Pharmacy stands today). When opened in 1908, it contained the latest in light polished wood shelving and storage facilities. Bins that opened outwards replaced drawers. Behind the 12-foot long counter were five large bins for oatmeal, sugar, rice and brown sugar. Smaller bins held items such as raisins and prunes. The smallest of all contained spices. Next to the counter were two tables of the same polished wood. The one, a work table, held the cheese container and coffee mill and the other, a glass case filled with candy - children's one cent candy and 'expensive' chocolates at 40¢ a pound. At the back of the store was a beautiful staircase which curved to the right and led to the second storey where boots, shoes and crockery were sold. 'Crockery' was everything from crude Canadian-made pickle crocks to fine Limoges China from France.
In those days salesmen came to Paisley by train and set up sample rooms at the Balmoral Hotel " (recently G & M Variety). "Dishes came packed in wicker baskets and shoes in suitcases. Items such as oysters and pickles were sold from barrels which had glass lids, domed high as on old comports. Pickles were dipped from the pungent brine and poured into wire handled cardboard pails with a glass ladle. Both creamery and farm butter were stocked, and each fall Mr. Carter would drive to the 4th of Elderslie and bring home a wagonload of new cheese from the Cantire Cheese Factory. Stored in the basement until aged, it was then brought into the store and placed under a glass dome on the cheese table. Raw bacon, ham, tenderloin and pork hocks were ordered weekly in the cold weather from Coleman's Plant in Kincardine, and this meat was generally ordered in advance by customers. Only on special occasions were lettuce and tomatoes brought in, out of season, and only at Christmas time were oranges available. Molly recalls that these Christmas oranges were huge and cost a nickel each. Her father used to take them as treats for the children when he went visiting.
On certain days grocery orders were picked up, and the groceries were delivered on the same day. Large orders were delivered by horse and wagon and small ones by hand wagon. Jack Worthington, the former (now deceased) Postmaster of Paisley and the late Jack McArthur, as lads, delivered groceries for the Carter store. Otherwise the store was operated entirely by Frank, his son George and daughter Constance, with occasional help from the younger children in the early days. Edna, now Mrs. P. J. F. Houston, recalls that one of her and Fred's Friday night duties was to pack sugar and oatmeal in five-pound bags, ready for the Saturday trade.
The store was open at eight in the morning and in the early years was open every night until nine. On Saturday night it was open until the last farmer left the store. Some of the women customers used to sit on the stools visiting and waiting for the men to show up to drive them home. They were never hurried nor told it was closing time.
The Carters ran the store until 1931, when it was sold after George died.
Paisley Pharmacy
514 Queen St. S., PAISLEY, ON N0G 2N0, ca
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