This three-storey wood frame building, with its covered veranda on
two sides, is our General Store. There is a hitching rail attached to the veranda, with a
horse and carriage tethered there.
Where It All Began (page 2)
As on many other occasions, either by myself or accompanied by one of my brothers, I am on my way to our little village of Coldstream and the General Store -- Jacob Marsh's General Store, the Coldstream Town Centre.
Originally, Coldstream owed its existence to this General Store, a waterpowered mill, a blacksmith shop, a dozen or so homes and a Quaker Meeting House.
This three-storey wood frame building, with its covered veranda on
two sides, is our General Store. There is a hitching rail attached to the veranda, with a
horse and carriage tethered there.
Well, they tell me this building actually dates back to the year 1867. It has always been a multipurpose building. Originally, as well as the General Store, it served as Post Office, Telegraph Office, a Public Library, Telephone Exchange, Insurance Office, Meeting Rooms for the Municipal Council, as well as the residence for the Marsh family. In the course of time, as the needs of the community expanded, so the occupancy of the building changed. At this time, when I, as a little Barefoot Boy, arrived at the store, the Municipal Council had acquired a Town Hall and the Post Office was relocated to another township.
Now let's have a look inside. There, near the center of the room, stands a large iron stove on the usual zinc floor mat. (The stove has not yet been removed for the summer months.) Right near the stove is a largish tin can with a layer of sawdust sprinkled over the bottom. This serves as the much-needed, and much-abused, Cuspidor. Near the stove stand several well-worn chairs. They seem to be sturdily built and reinforced with wire so that they will withstand the abuse of sprawl lounging and tipping-back in.
On one end of the counter is the usual gold-trimmed, hand-operated coffee grinder. I vividly recall the aroma of freshly-ground coffee. This delightful aroma, however, mingles with other country store smells, such as tobacco smoke and sweaty country clothing. These additives made the mixture more memorable than delightful.
I well remember, off to the side of the room, hanging from a special rack on the ceiling, are buggy whips of several styles and sizes. Hanging from another rack are stalks of bananas, in varying stages of ripeness. Bananas are sold by the dozen, you know, as are oranges and lemons. Prunes and raisins are available in open boxes and are sold by the pound. A tin scoop is available for dishing them out.
Of course there are candies -- assorted caramels, fudges and licorices, jellybeans, gumdrops as well as Wrigley's spearmint, juicyfruit and Adams chewing gum. Then, of course, there are tobacco pipes and plugs of pipe and chewing tobacco, as well as cigars for the well-to-do farmers.
Behind the counter are shelves of canned goods, much as we have today, but fewer varieties. There are large tins of Salmon, Pilchards and Sardines. Kelloggs Corn Flakes and Nabisco Shredded Wheat, and Quaker Oats are also displayed on the shelves.
Over there is the drygoods section, with piles of work clothes, boots, overalls, shirts and socks, as well as horse blankets and lap robes for cold winter driving.
Most country stores also have an assortment of hardware such as is required for general repair work, as well as shovels, axes, crow-bars and canthooks for rolling logs. Of course, any item that they did not have on hand would gladly be ordered for you.
Oh yes, there is the usual medley of country folk. Many of them are farmers in their work clothes -- overalls and heavy boots. Some are standing around talking, or lounging in chairs, balancing on two legs in an easy sprawl. These farmers are waiting for their logs to be sawn or their grist to be ground at the local mill. One or two just dropped in to get in on the latest gossip (news of the day).
They seem to be swapping yarns about their crops or their livestock. Mack is telling about the litter of pigs that came last night to his new brood sow. She had thirteen -- two were runts and were being cared for in a basket in the kitchen. It looks as though haying will be good this year, if we keep on having nice weather.
Several of the men seem to be finding comfort puffing on dirty, old pipes. Then there is Mr. Puffer showing off his newly-acquired reeking cigar. There is usually someone who derives his satisfaction chewing his tobacco and occasionally spitting to punctuate his remarks. Quite often he would quite miss the mark of the cuspidor conveniently placed on the floor for his use.
I remember the genial, smiling, patient clerks behind the counter. There is Roy, the proprietor, and one of his sisters. It could be Mary, Lottie, Lettie, or Emily. They never seemed to be in a hurry and were always quite willing to be of service to each of the customers. Now and then they would join in with the general conversation and add a remark or two of their own.
Well, this is our general store. Although it is not much different from other general stores, it is our store. It forms a general meeting place for neighbours of all ages, male and female. Here, bits of gossip and news are exchanged. Everyone knows everyone else, including his personal affairs. In short, the general store is the centre of most community activity.
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