The Housey's Rapids Store

A Description of The Housey's Rapids General Store

As written January 30th, 1988 by Lydia Taylor

On entering the Front door, to the right was a counter, and on it a glass covered case that held 12 gauge shot gun shells and different sizes of rifle ammunition and dynamite that was used there abouts for blasting rock. Behind the counter was an assortment of men's knee high rubber boots, work shoes, heavy work pants and shirts. There were a various assortment on nails in 50 pound kegs. These articles were very slow in moving so they were finally discarded.

There was a half door leading into the post office which was equipped for us to sell money orders, postal notes and stamps. Out going mail was date stamped, placed in a locked bag, and incoming mail had the same procedure. Mail was picked up at 8:00 AM and incoming mail was brought anytime after 4:00 PM.

The centre of the store was wide enough to allow room for a big box stove, a trap door to the basement which was seldom used, a stand that held bulk biscuits, and a bread box which held about 30 loaves of bread, a nice convenient place for I recall one of the customers coming in with a baby and seating her on the bread box. I guess diapers were not very thick in those days do there was a leakage. I didn't notice until after they had left the store, so the bread had to be thrown out.

On the grocery side there were a few drugs and some very strange remedies that Mr. Hill, and probably the previous owner had stocked. There was a Colic cure for horses, a dozen or so green packages of a cure for something else, and little sticks of resin that had to be softened with heat and put on a sore or wound. All this was bought with the stock. It never sold, so had to be thrown out.

Green horns we were, but we survived. Now for the grocery department. To the left of the front door there was a glass covered case which held the chocolate bars, chewing gum, candy, cigarettes, pipe tobacco, chewing tobacco, and snuff. 

On the counter was a large roll of brown wrapping paper and the scale. The scale was considered to be quite modern at the time, but when the scale inspector came to examine it, he said it wasn't accurate, so we had to purchase a new one. It seemed like a big expense. Under the counter held the excess of chocolate bars. There were small bins for raisins, rice, etc., and three large bins for white and brown sugar and rolled oats. These items came in 100 pound bags and had to be emptied into the bins and weighed out as required.

Next there was a half door leading into the house, and the counter beyond it held the two fifty gallon barrels of white and cider vinegar. It was delivered to the store room, but Grandpa had to manoeuvre them up on the counter, take the plug from the bung hole and insert the taps.

I must mention, at the end of the centre isle there was a huge refrigerator that held milk, pop, cold meats and salt pork. The heavy blocks of ice had to be lifted up five feet or more. It was too heavy a job for Grandpa. 

Behind the counter was the ice-cream freezer. It was necessary to put fresh ice and salt in every day. First the water had to be drained off, then salt and ice added, packed down with a cant-hook. It was just the right size to fit ice in between the freezer and the ice cream case. These poles were used by the lumber men in the bush.

The shelves back of this counter held the groceries, canned goods, tea, coffee and anything that was necessary to please the customers. The excess soda biscuits were put higher up, but when they were needed, some of the packages were empty. Those cute little mice were having a ball. Our cats were useless and lazy, so traps were used. 

The squirrels were a nuisance too. One morning I opened the door and a red squirrel was sitting on the counter thoroughly enjoying a butter tart. He was very reluctant to leave it, so he took the tart with him. I asked the neighbour boy if I could borrow his cat for a while, and she caught the squirrel in a hurry.

For the summer months, we tried to handle anything that was called for; fresh meat, vegetables and fruit, which meant a trip out to Gravenhurst often during the week.
The store hours were supposed to be From 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM, more often it was 10:00 PM of later.

Strange as it may seem, we didn't do very much trading. All our purchases were cash sales, and the cash and cheques that we had on hand were paid to the travellers that took our orders. So it was a very agreeable way of trading. When we had a surplus of cash we bought things and materials that were needed about the buildings, fencing, a drilled well, new roof, no end to repairs.

Regarding difficult customers; We never had too much trouble, although some bills have never been paid and never will be. Most of our customers were very honest. Of course the youngsters had no money to spend in the 1930's. I'm sure many goodies were taken when I had to go outside to the oil house for kerosene, or out pumping gas. Often I was alone as Alfred was out getting groceries. I never accused anyone of stealing, but I knew it was going on all the time.

Lydia Taylor, Jan 30 1988.

P.S.  The neighbours cat that caught the pesky squirrel had kittens and Gordon Break asked me if I would like one.  At first I said no because Grandpa didn't want anymore cats around however Gordon brought a little female up and that I didn't want, so he brought the cute little grey one.  I thought I'd take a chance if Grandpa didn't like it we would send it back.  When your Grandpa and Ellen arrived home from Orillia he took to the little kitten right away and it  was his cat for 17 years.  His name was Chico.