by Heather Campbell
Special to Whitewater News
WHITEWATER REGION (Beachburg) — It has been said that “change is the only constant in life”. That applies to many homes and businesses in historic Beachburg. One of them is “The Beachburg Restaurant”.
Although Lyttle’s Hotel and Livery Stable once occupied the current site of the Beachburg Restaurant, a fire destroyed it in the 1930’s.
In 1939 George Le Barron bought the land and built a restaurant and service station. He and his wife Ilene lived above the restaurant. After George’s sudden death in 1955, the building was purchased by Percy Johnson and his son and daughter-in-law, Glen and Erma. It was renamed “The Speedway” which, in addition to being a restaurant, offered a juke box, a pinball machine and was a favourite gathering place.
Unfortunately, fire struck again in the late 50’s. The restaurant was rebuilt on the same foundation once more and has had a succession of owners: Ken and Anne Parsons, Hawley and Thelma Somerville, Barb and Don Wulff (who added the signs “This Side” to one half and “The Other Side” to the remainder), and finally Eddie and Lily Dan and family who have operated the restaurant since 1992. It is still a popular gathering place. A group of local men affectionately known as ‘The Senate” gather daily, enjoying coffee and discussing the latest events. If the walls could talk, what stories they could tell!
This month, thanks to owners Eddie and Lily and Veteran Enterprises Corporation which they hired, the restaurant has had a beautiful facelift both inside and out, including new furniture. Because the former division has been camouflaged by the new siding, Don Wulff’s signs no longer apply and are gone but there will always be the memories as history evolves.