by HEATHER CAMPBELL
Special to Whitewater News
WHITEWATER REGION (Beachburg) — Before it was demolished last week, a Main Street building in the middle of downtown Beachburg, that had seen a variety of owners and businesses, was very much a part of Beachburg’s history.
It was built by Albert Stokes, a harness maker, to house his harness shop.
Fay Bennet’s website, FaysGenealogy.com (researching early families of Ross and Westmeath townships), states that Albert was born in 1886 and married Elizabeth Wilcox in 1911. She had a small millinery and dress shop in the lean-to side of the building. The upstairs part was rented out. The Stokes lived in the brick house beside the shop. Guessing that Albert built this shop around the time of his marriage to Elizabeth, would suggest that the building was well over 100 years old.
This harness shop owned by Albert Stokes was converted into a restaurant for a few years, operated by a Mrs. Huff.
Then, in 1967 the first Beachburg library was started in this building.
After that Keith Johnson operated “Keith’s Flowers” at this location until he sold it to Judy Davidson who continued a flower and gift shop.
Tina Bromley, the next owner, operated it as the “Heart and Home” gift store, but eventually sold it and the village people are a little unsure of the names or the whereabouts of the owners over the past seven years. It did operate as a second-hand store for a while, selling mainly clothing. That, too, closed and the building, without anybody caring for it was becoming a health concern and an eyesore.
It was condemned by both the Whitewater Region Fire Department and the health department.
The villagers agree that the recent demolition is a blessing and welcome the clean and beautiful look.
Thanks goes to Gaye Clarke and Cheryl Brearley-Pugh who are the residents of the stately, adjacent former Stokes house and who purchased the decrepit shop and hired Sam McCrae to do the excavating. Watch for their future plans.
A small building beside this shop was once Ernie Davidson’s barber shop, later becoming Del O’Brien’s law office. It still stands and now is advertised as Montgomery Law Offices.
