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IMPERIAL STREET 

4/9/2016

2 Comments

 
Picture
Photo: Hugh Cummings collection
Picture
Same location, 2016, photo by Jayson Stewart
"The building after the post office was the town hall, and the jail. My great grandfather Narcisse Dorion was the police officer during the Depression, and he used to let people passing through Massey sleep at the jail.  Crest hardware is still the hardware store (Home Hardware). The abandoned building (torn down in 2015) to the south of the hardware store was the grocery store. The post office is torn down, and the Dragonfly (Restaurant) is where the town hall used to be." -Bonnie Brash
​
Picture
"This was my Great Grandfather Charlie Shiels Garage - that is now the Home Hardware. See the gas pumps out side for the Model T's? He discovered gravity feed by sinking the gas tanks under the ground." -Brenda Skibinsky
 St. Denis Clover Farm store turned into Cazabon IGA
​and Crest Hardware turned to Rippins

My first job was for Calvin and Cathy Rippin when they expanded and that side was a 5 & 10 type store called Mersco.

My dad was police chief back in the early 1960s. We knew the jail well. I think where you see the bell tower was where the siren sounded for fires and at 9pm to say kids had to be off the streets.

The Dragonfly (Restaurant) is the old restaurant. Back in the late 40's early 50's it was owned by Ernie Schroeder Senior. They rented rooms upstairs and had the restaurant on the main floor. Where the parking lot for the Dragonfly is was the old fire hall and jail.
-Christopher Lachance
-Jackie Pilon
-Susan Joyce Sonnenberg
-Brian Sonnenberg
2 Comments
Brenda Skibinsky
4/20/2016 01:01:03 pm

Roz at Home Hardware told me that was the reason they cannot build on the property between them and the Dragonfly -My great grandfather contaminated the soil with sinking the gas tanks back in the early 1900's - It was an early invention/discovery - He was an inventor - just like the first skidoo - He had to make two - The doctor needed one to get to the outskirts of town - They had to use the logging trails because the skidoos scared the horses - I am proud to say he was one of Massey's great inventors

Reply
J. R. Bruce Cassie
3/8/2018 06:57:30 pm

One Hallowe'en, a friend and I soaped the front windows of St. Denis' Grocery Store. My parents made me return the next day and wash the windows which I did as quickly as possible without ever meeting anyone who might have wondered what on earth I was doing there.

In the Hugh Cummings' photograph of the streetscape, you can see St Denis' Store, the Crest Hardware and the brick Post Office. Next was the home of the Alexander family followed by Medve's Restaurant (and Rooms to Rent above) and the Town Hall. The jail was under the Town Hall. There was a steep driveway between the Town Hall and Medve's Restaurant. The jail was not where Medve's Restaurant stood but rather under the Town Hall.

Yes, there was a Bell on top of the Town Hall which was replaced with a siren. My brother George and I pulled the handle (1955 or 1956) that blew the siren and volunteer firefighters came from everywhere to collect fire suppression resources. Since we were severely disciplined for having triggered the alarm, we never made that mistake again. If two boys were disciplined the same way today, the adult who administered the spanking would be sent to jail. Thank you, Dad, for spanking us.

Reply



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This site has been designed and is maintained by Jayson Stewart of Laps in Judgement Studios, a small graphic design/web design/film making/community development house in Willisville, Ontario.

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  • Home
  • 150 THINGS
  • Exhibits
    • Fire Engine
    • First Nations
    • General Store
    • Holy Bible
    • Hugh Cummings Photography
    • James Henry Massey
    • Logging
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    • Pointer Boat
    • School Room
  • EVENTS
    • ART SHOW >
      • JESSIE BURNSIDE MEMORIAL ART SHOW AND SALE
      • 2022 Art Show
      • 2021 Art Show and Sale
      • 2020 Art Show and Sale
      • 2019 Art Show and Sale
      • 2013-2017 Art Show and Sale
    • Culture Days
    • Discovery Days
  • GIFTS
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    • About
    • Accessibility
    • Help! >
      • CAP
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    • Prices
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    • Where?
  • OUR COMMUNITY
    • SHARE YOUR HISTORY!
    • PEOPLE
    • MASSEY
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  • JOB POSTING