I leafed through the October 5 and 12 issues of the Renfrew Advance from 1967 to see what food items cost prior to Thanksgiving Day. As I mentioned before in this column, a few years ago an elderly man brought me a box full of all the Renfrew Advance issues from the Centennial Year 1967. They are a real treasure.
There were no food flyers inserted in the weekly newspapers like there are now and newspapers had pages of grocery store ads. Red & White, A&P, Loblaws and Dominion stores were the grocery stores that advertised each week in Renfrew. I found it strange that none of the stores, not even corner stores, advertised milk, butter and eggs. Powdered milk was advertised as 3 lbs for 99-cents. Bread was occasionally marketed at 25-cents for a 24 oz loaf. Many brands of coloured margarine were usually highlighted. One store had it on at 4 lbs for 99-cents.
Turkeys were selling for 39 to 43-cents/lb. Butterball turkeys 45-cents/lb. Fresh turkeys 49-cents/lb. Fifty years later (now) stores are advertising turkeys for 95-cents a pound. A little more than double the price in 1967. Incredible!
Blade roast was 55-cents/lb. T-bone steak 89-cents/lb. Ground beef 49-cents/lb. Leg of Ham 59-cents/lb. Maple Leaf breakfast bacon 1 lb pkg 79-cents,
Bananas 12-14-cents/lb. Grapefruits 12 for $1. Cauliflower 23-cents. Carrots 3 lb bag for 23-cents. Oranges 69-cents/doz.
Stores had 50 lb bag of potatoes on from 99-cents to $1.39. Potatoes are still a great bargain.
Bee Hive Golden Syrup 2-lb tin/39-cents. Peanut butter 3 lb jar $1. 48 oz tins of tomato juice 3 for $1. Maxwell House coffee 10 oz jar $1.39. COTT 10 oz tins of soft drinks 12 for $1. Heinz ready-to-serve soup 6 tins 59-cents. Ice-cream, half gallon 77-cents. Raisin pie was 23-cents.
A discount store ran ads each week on cigarettes selling for 50-cents for the large pkg and 40-cents for the small pks. $3.74 a carton.
A GM car dealership advertised good used1966 Chev cars from $2,195 to $2,395.
Sunday evening was family night to watch TV with Ed Sullivan on at 8 p.m. and Bonanza at 9 p.m.
Expo was being held in Montreal and it was a big attraction. Colonial Bus Lines had daily trips to Montreal leaving Renfrew at 6:30 a.m. and the price was $7.50 return. The ad said the bus takes you direct to the Expo entrance gate. Why drive?
Those are just some of the interesting items I gleaned from the pages of The Renfrew Advance.
There are so many things to be thankful for this Thanksgiving Day. Basic food prices are still a bargain like they were 50 years ago.
Have a blessed Thanksgiving with your family!
