Feature Article July 17
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Before it's Gone ForeverLets not forget that the old Foodtown building in Parham that is to be demolished and hauled away has a history. It has a bit of a personal tie to me because its builder, Barney Snider, was my first cousin.
The story probably began with John Goodfellow, married to Barneys sister, who sold his store in Tichborne and came back to Parham to operate the first Ford dealership in the area. It was located in the general area of where the Foodtown building is now. After Johns untimely death at an early age, the dealership was passed over to Mrs. Goodfellows brother, Barney. Barney had rather lofty ideas for making money and he decided to build this large, two-storey building to house his garage and dealership. No one seems to be able to set the date exactly, but we think it must have been the early 1930s.
It was the era of dancingin barns, pavilions, whatever, so Barney decided, why not atop his garage? It would be unique and thats what people were looking for. Some sort of concrete flooring was installed, an outside staircase built, arrangements made for refreshments inside the building, and real music hired (no DJs in those days). Most people I talked to recently remembered the dances, and some had attended. Glenn Howes remembers seeing his uncle Tommy Howes and cousin Rita Drew (Lawrence) dancing when he was there as a kid (too young to dance). Mrs. Alberta Bird has wonderful nostalgic memories of attending the dances and enjoying herself so much. She remembers Aggie (Agnes) Goodfellow, holidaying at their summer home, singing with the band.
In the late 30s, Barneys daughter, Audrey, married Arthur Ward, principal at Parham School, and a small apartment was created for the couple in the rear left corner on the ground floor of the building. Arthurs successor, Charles Young, used it, I believe, when he came to replace Ward when he relocated in Kingston. Other people made it their home for short periods.
World War II came along; many things changed and Barneys ambition turned him to the northto the Griffith area to be involved in the lumber business there. The Ford dealership went to another relative, Wesley Revell, who had been married to Barneys younger sister. It was the beginning of the large Revell Motors business of today.
Jack Simonett, Parham businessman, leased the building and brought in a GM dealership. Russell Sully came from his service station in Westport to be the mechanic in the new set-up. The Simonetts lived in the Goodfellow house across the road (now moved on Wagarville RoadEdie Cairns) and the Sullys occupied the Anglican rectory.
In December 1944, the Simonett GM dealership went to Sharbot Lake, where a new garage building and a new residence awaited the Simonetts and their staff. Garnet Kirkham bought the Parham garage and operated a successful oil and gas business for Texaco until the late 1970s, when it was sold to Bob Harris, who bought the GM dealership back. A small dealership can be overwhelmed by the large quotas given to it to sell and I think this was probably true for Bob. He sold the garage building to Gerald Howes in July 1985. Geralds wife, Miriam, had been awarded the Post Office and they needed a building. They had the gas pumps and a small store, which they gradually developed into a larger oneFoodtown size. Two apartments to rent were made on the second floor. Bill Zweir bought the store in 1990 and had a thriving business for five years, until it folded in 1995. Groceries were seized by the wholesalers and the store closed. Thus it all came tumbling down, another dream, but this time its the end for the grand old building so proudly raised 70 years ago.
So dont think of it as an old, run-down garage building, but remember it as a house of dreams for so many over those years, a place of joyous music and dancing at the beginning, as well as a place of successful businesses under different owners. It had a life, which is ending in a sad way, but we will remember the happier times when it served Parham residents so well.
