Early Businesses / Businesses of 1897 / a 1916 Industrial & Business Perspective
Early BusinessesApproximately 1887
William Robertson, general merchant, South Main Street – Among the more recently established business houses of Westville, but yet which at the same time possess the full confidence of the public is that of Mr. William Robertson, who carries on a big trade as a dealer in general merchandise. The business was started by the present proprietor in this year, but Mr. Robertson is by no means unknown in this district, as for two years he carried on a livery stable in the town, but having disposed of that he went into his present business, and his prospects of the future and continued success are of the brightest. His premises are located on South Main Street and comprise a commodious store, 16X40 feet in dimensions, with a wareroom in the rear for reserve stock; he carries a very complete line of staple and fancy groceries, including general provisions, canned goods of every description, sugars, spices, the best teas and coffees, country produce, fine brands of family flour, meal, and in short all kinds of family supplies. Mr. Robertson has ever made it his aim to deal only in the best goods and his customers know that they can always procure here good quality and value for their money. He employs two hands and keeps a horse and wagon for delivering goods. Mr. Robertson is a native of New Brunswick and has lived in Westville for two years, where he has made many friends and is well esteemed.
Thos. J. Gray,
dealer in British and American staple and fancy dry goods,
Main St., opposite Post Office. He started this business
five years ago, and has in that time considerately developed
the resources, and increased the facilities of his house.
He occupies a commodious store 20X30 feet in dimensions,
with a wareroom of similar size, and carries on a general
business as a dealer in British and American staple and
fancy dry goods, groceries and crockery. The stock in these
departments is, of course, too extensive and varied to be
mentioned in detail, but it includes everything in its line
specially adapted to the wants of the general community,
these goods being imported in part from the States, as well
as being obtained from Toronto, Montreal, Halifax and
Truro. Flour and feed, cornmeal and oatmeal are also dealt
in . Mr. Gray makes it a point to charge no fancy prices,
but to mark everything as low as can consistently be done
with a living business, seeking emolument rather in
increased sales than in large individual profits. Mr. Gray
was born near Hamilton, Scotland, and for 30 years has lived
in Canada, 20 of which have been spent in
Westville; he
possesses all the energy and enterprise of his race and
which makes the native Scot the most desirable of emigrants.
J. A. McDonald, groceries, boots and shoes, Main Street – In all communities it will be noticed that a number of our business men are engaged in the prosecution of the grocery trade, one of the most important branches of our commercial pursuits. A reliable establishment in Westville, which receives a very fair share of public support, and patronage, is that of M. J. A. McDonald, of Main Street, who carries on a thriving business as a dealer in groceries and boots and shoes. This business was started by M. McDonald tow years ago, and has since steadily increased its trade and connections. The store occupied is 20X20 feet in size, and is stocked with a full and varied selection of family supplies in the line of staple and fancy groceries, including general provisions, canned goods, teas, coffees, sugars, molasses, pickles, cheese, plain and fancy biscuits, and the usual grocers’ sundries. Country produce is also dealt in, as well as fruits in season. Mr. McDonald makes it his aim to handle only the best; he obtains his groceries from Halifax and boots and shoes from Amherst and Pictou. These boots and shoes are of all grades, neatly made, and strong and durable; the best brands of family flour are also kept in stock. Mr. McDonald is a native of Pictou County and for 14 years has lived in Westville, where he is well known and esteemed.
McKean and Co., local tailor,
at the corner of MacDonald's Lane and Main Street
John McLeod, dealer in groceries and provision, opp. Oddfellows Hall – The importance of the grocery trade in all thriving communities is amply exemplified by the great number of those who are engaged in this pursuit. The most recent addition to the grocery business of Westville is Mr. John McLeod, who started this enterprise a few months ago, occupying desirable premises opposite Oddfellows Hall. His spacious store is fully stocked with a most varied and complete line of staple and fancy groceries, in which are included general provisions, smoked herrings, and codfish, also canned goods, condensed coffee, sugar molasses, dried fruits, pickles, condiments, spices, and all kinds of grocers’ sundries, including a variety of articles absolutely indispensable in the home. Mr. McLeod handles the best brands of family flour, from the Kent Mills, also crackers, biscuits and confectionery. He gives employment to two hands, and promptly attends to all orders. Mr. McLeod buys his supplies wherever he can get them best and cheapest, and is always prepared to offer his customers every inducement in quality and prices. He was born at Hopewell, in the County of Pictou, and came to Westville four years ago. Mr. McLeod is an enterprising, reliable man of business, whose store will be found a very desirable one for obtaining supplies.
Murdock McKay, dealer in boots, shoes, rubbers, etc., etc. The leading boot and shoe establishment of Westville is that of Mr. Murdock McKay, who has had a long experience in this business. It is now seventeen years since this gentleman embarked in this enterprise in Westville, coming to the village in 1870; starting in a comparatively small way, he gradually increased his facilities and developed his trade, and though once burnt out he never lost courage, till now he is in possession of a well-defined and lucrative business. He occupies a spacious and well-equipped store on South Main Street, 18X24 feet in dimensions, where is carried a very choice and carefully selected assortment of fine boots and shoes of all grades and qualities suitable for the ladies, gentlemen, youths, and children, and which for neatness of design and execution, comfort, durability and general excellence cannot be excelled. These goods are chiefly the products of leading manufacturers at Amherst and Montreal. Rubbers and slippers of all kinds are also dealt while every attention is paid to repairing, which is promptly and neatly executed. Mr. McKay is a native of Middle River, and came to Westville in 1870; he is a gentleman widely known and highly respected.
Crockett's Corner, Main and Diamond streets, 1910.
Particular's unknown
The Hotel Dufferin, Wm. McDonald, proprietor, Main Street – There is nothing which adds to the prestige and importance of a place in the eyes of strangers and visitors so much as desirable hotel accommodation. In this particular, Westville may well be congratulated. A very desirable house, which offers every convenience and inducement to the traveling public, as well as to permanent or long-time boarders, is the Hotel Dufferin, eligibly located on Main Street, at the junction of Dufferin Street. The hotel is a substantial new building, and was opened last Christmas by its present proprietor, Mr. Wm. McDonald, and rapidly attained public favor. The establishment is well-furnished in modern style throughout, and all conveniences are at hand. There are 14 spacious, airy bedrooms, cheerful and light and comfortable heated in the winter months. There are two neatly appointed sitting-rooms, a smoking-room and a spacious dining room. The kitchen department is under experienced management, and the table is always bountifully supplied with choice viands and delicacies in season. Commercial travelers will find here commodious sample rooms and every convenience for prosecuting their business. There are excellent livery stables in connection, six first-class horses and a variety of rigs being kept for this purpose, while there is ample stable accommodation for those driving through this section. Mr. McDonald is a native of Pictou County and for 21 years has been a resident of Westville. He is a most popular host, and those who patronize the Hotel Dufferin will experience every attention and courtesy at his hands, while the rates consistent with first-class accommodations, are very moderate.
D. & J.D. Robertson, livery stable, Main Street – Well equipped livery stales are a great boon, in fact a necessity in every trade centre or community, and are equally useful in the prosecution of business as well as in the following of pleasure. Visitors to Westville, as well as residents in the place, will find every accommodation in this line at the well-known livery stables of Messrs. D. and J.D. Robertson, of Main Street. This enterprise was started two years ago by Mr. William Robertson, who sold out to the present proprietors a few months ago. The premises occupied are large and commodious, and afford every facility for the prosecution of this business; the stables are comfortably arranged and supplied with every convenience, and there is ample accommodation for 13 horses, while there is also a large carriage house. The Messrs. Robertson keep eight horses, and a variety of carriages, closed and open, with sleighs and cutters, for livery use. These horses are of good class, sound in wind and limb, free from vice and willing goers. The charges are of a most moderated nature, and every satisfaction is guaranteed patrons. Both members of this firm are natives of Westville, where they are well-known and esteemed. Mr. Daniel Robertson has always been accustomed to this business, while Mr. J.D. Robertson was formerly engaged in machine work.
The Hayman Brothers meat, grocery and general store,
at the south end of Main Street, circa 1920
Outside Rod Fraser's Drugstore
R. Fraser, druggist and apothecary, dealer in drugs, medicines, paints, oils, stationary, etc., etc. – It is to the skill and science of the druggist that suffering humanity looks for alleviation of pain; the physician may successfully diagnose, but it is the chemist who prepares the remedy. The Westville Drug Store is an old established and reliable institution of the place; it was founded a number of years ago by Mr. McKenzie, who was succeeded by Mr. Grant, till in 1878 Mr. R. Fraser, the present proprietor, took possession. The premises occupied by him comprise a very commodious and handsomely appointed store, 24X28 feet in dimensions, with a well-equipped dispensary in connection; a varied and complete stock is carried of pure fresh drugs and chemicals, desirable and popular patent medicines, physicians’ supplies, toilet articles, fancy goods and druggists’ sundries in general. In the basement is kept a full supply of paints and oils. Special attention is paid to physicians’ prescriptions and family recipes, which are compounded with accuracy and dispatch a varied assortment of plain and fancy stationery is also dealt in, as well as choice brands of cigars and tobaccos. The finest grades of tea, pure sugars and fancy goods generally are to be obtained at this establishment, everything sold being warranted pure and reliable. Mr. Fraser is a native of New Glasgow, and has been a resident of Westville since 1878; he is a member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nova Scotia, and is a gentleman of high professional abilities.
Inside Rod Fraser's Drug Store:
l. to R.: P.H. McKay, former M.P.:
Rod Fraser; Dr. J. MacDonald; Edwin Oliver; Allister Fraser
Acadian Co-operative Society, Ltd., importers and dealers in general merchandise – The Acadian Co-operative Society (Ltd.) was first started on the co-operative principle in 1871, but five years ago was re-organized under the “General Joint Stock Company's Act of Nova Scotia” and has since met with great success and is an acknowledged benefit in the community, supplying the very best of goods at the lowest prices. The company is an importer and dealer in general merchandise, covering in its wide range, groceries, dry goods, hardware, crockery, Portland cement, fire brick, lime bricks, and shingles, etc. Confining itself to no special markets, but buying in large quantities for cash, in all parts of Canada and importing form the States, the Company is enabled to offer special inducements. The premises occupied by the company is located on Main Street and comprises two spacious flats, each 30X90 feet in dimensions, with a warehouse outside for lime and sand, etc. A heavy and varied stock is carried of British and American goods, staple and fancy groceries, shelf hardware and house furnishings, crockery, glassware, etc., comprising a multitudinous assortment of articles utterly impossible to enumerate in detail, but which are such as are generally included under the above headings. The president of the company is D.C. Fraser, Esq. of New Glasgow; the vice president, Mr. Robert Gray of Westville, while the responsible duties of secretary fall on Mr. F.H.S. Calnek, of Westville.
Wm. Fraser & Co., general merchants and dealers in hardware, choice family groceries, dry goods etc. – In reviewing of the commercial and industrial resources or the thriving town of Westville, it is necessary that primary mention be made of the old established business house of Messrs. William Fraser & Co. This house dates its inception back to 18 years ago, since when its history has been a steadily progressive one. The premises occupied is located on South Main Street and comprises a general store, 30X50 feet in size with a flour and wareroom of similar dimensions, while an upstairs room, 40X80 feet in size is used for storage of all kinds o household furniture. A department 18X20 feet, is devoted to crockery and glassware; boots and shoes of all styles and qualities are handled, as well as ready-made clothing, gents’ furnishings, stationary and fancy good. Messrs. Fraser & Co. also won an extensive lumber yard covering half an acre, where all sorts of lumber is always kept in stock and the biggest orders can be filled on the shortest notice. The individual members of this firm are Mr. William Fraser and Mr. John McDougall, both of whom are natives of Pictou County and are gentlemen highly esteemed in both social and commercial circles and who are widely known as enterprising, energetic men of business. Mr. McDougall represents the County of Pictou in the Dominion House of Commons.
This photograph of Rory
MacKenzie's butcher shop and general store about 1912 shows
Rory,
with the moustache, and Tena (MacKenzie) Muirhead, the lady
in back. The others are unidentified.
Geo. E Munro, dealer in staple and fancy dry goods, gents’ furnishings, millinery, ready-made clothing, boots and shoes, groceries, etc., corner Main and Black Diamond streets – Mr. Munro has been established since May 1885, and occupies conveniently located premises at the corner of Main and Black Diamond streets, comprising a commodious store, 24X30 feet in dimensions, with a wareroom in connection of similar size. Here is carried a varied assortment of choice staple and fancy dry goods, including all kinds of dress fabrics, linens, woolens, sheeting’s, trimmings, ladies’ hosiery, gloves and the newest fashions in millinery, these being, in part, imported from the States and England, other supplies being obtained in Montreal and Halifax. All grades and sizes of boots and shoes for general use are handled, also a full supply of family groceries and general provisions. A very fine line of ready-made clothing is carried in stock, the products of prominent manufacturers in Montreal, Toronto and Hamilton; carpets and trunks are also kept on hand. Thus enjoying ample facilities for obtaining supplies, Mr. Munro, who is a native of Westville, is enabled to offer every advantage to his customers.
The earliest known picture of
Westville Drug Store, particulars unknown.
James McLeod – One of the representative businessmen of Westville who does a thriving and comprehensive trade in the town is Mr. James McLeod, dealer in groceries, dry goods, crockery, boots, whose, stoves and tinware. Mr. McLeod has had a long and varied experience in this line; he has been established here for seven years and 13 years to that was engaged in a similar business in Salt Springs in company with his father. He occupies a spacious store, 23X33 feet in dimensions, which is stocked through with a variety of general articles which may be said to be indispensable to the homes of the community, and which are especially adapted to the wants of those in this section. Mr. McLeod procures his supplies from Toronto, Montreal, Quebec, Truro and Saint John, buying in the best markets on the most advantageous terms. He keeps a full and varied assortment of staple and fancy groceries and general provisions, also British and American dry goods and small wares; boots and shoes of all grades are handled, suitable for ladies, gentlemen and children; also a choice line of useful crockery and glassware, coal and wood stoves, tinware and wall paper. Country produce is taken in exchange for all goods, and flour and feed are also dealt in. In addition, to the accommodation provided by the store, Mr. McLeod also utilizes a wareroom, 23X33 feet in size, with a barn 20X20 feet for flour and feed. Mr. McLeod is a native of Roger’s Hill, Pictou County, but for seven years has lived in Westville; he has the reputation of being a straightforward businessman, and those dealing at his establishment may rely on full value for their money.
This photo shows the first gas
pump in Westville
Outside James McLeod's Store,
Main Street
Inside James McLeod's Store
The B.A. Chabassol 5¢ to $1
Store, 1948 - 1958