Clarendon Miller Community Archives | May 04, 2016


“Memories of General Stores” presented by the Clarendon Miller Community Archives.

Clarendon Miller Community Archives will celebrate its 10th Anniversary on May 14 at the Clar-Mill Hall from noon to 4 pm by bringing back memories of local general stores. Guest speaker, Mary Cook, will provide a historical perspective; a panel of local store owners/operators/employees will describe their experiences; and displays will bring back memories of the local stores in North Frontenac Township.

It was Isaac Allan (one of the Allan brothers from the mill on Millar’s Lake) who built the store at Mississippi. His first store was built on the east side of the railroad tracks. This first store became a private residence when he built his second store.

This second store, which later became known as the “Furniture House”, was on the west side of the railroad tracks. In 1890 he then had Louis Marguerat build his third and final store, at which time his second store was used for storing furniture and coffins.

This last store was a large building with an attached residence. This store business was operated as I. Allan and Son, since he had taken his son Roy in as a partner. This store listed several articles for sale: “General Merchandise, Furniture, Renfrew Lime and Brick, Cordwood, Railway Ties, Fence Posts, Lumber, Shingles as well as a full assortment of Undertaker’s Goods on hand and Hearse in Attendance”.

Isaac operated here until July 26, 1911 when he left for Kingston. His son Roy Allan took over the store. Before Isaac left he gave a banquet for all his customers, which was remembered by all for a long time.

Roy operated the store until he too left for Kingston on March 28, 1918. In Kingston he established the Allan Lumber Company.

William Geddes and his family then moved into the residence attached to the store and operated the store as W.A. Geddes and Sons. They operated the store, post office and funeral business. In 1919 they sold the funeral business to W.J. Jackson of McDonalds Corners.

William Geddes died in 1958. William’s son, John R. Geddes then took over the business; in 1961 he decided to discontinue operating the general store, at which time he sold his stock to Max Millar of Snow Road.

The first post office in Mississippi was in the Norman Clark residence. The Clark family left in 1910 and William Geddes replaced him as Postmaster. In 1911 the Geddes family and the post office moved to the house across the road and remained there until he took over the store from Roy Allan. He installed the post office in the rear of the store.

When John Geddes moved to Toronto the post office was then moved to the George Olmstead residence with Edith as Postmistress. It remained here until October 27, 1987 and then closed when Edith retired. The Mississippi residents then collected their mail from the green boxes at Gemmill’s Store in Snow Road Station.

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