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o 100â€"Yearâ€"Old Store At Bir Is Tumed Over To ,XEEMW _ > stt s e % bedbegereme mmemmom mm onplit ioh rnventonmmememmminntetoiecrusent .. ; ooo t t oo es css oo t s sc . %}m’*ww“sfi“w""&,s ie en oi o m ee mm on on io dnc e e t tss y in t 6 fln S ces ,*w’ yhta :L;“r’ C t ols se . tmz s ol .. e esd > 5‘g;lfii{lflfiffi,?w‘i‘?‘--?iz-é.f’.""'"i*tf,?‘""-iazfifgl!?fii!;!3}”mxi&‘if@;i'?‘. \,&fo”«gz 2. t ces A CENTURY‘S SERVICE TO BIRR COMMUNITY will not be> interrupted for the Birr store pictured here, but will continue "business as usual" when Etheld Harris hands over the reins on July 1 to Capt, Jack Legg, veteran of six years in the service, four of them spent overseas. AFTER operaling his store at | the level, but a good horse could Birr for more than 37 years | pass it climbing a hill!" of its century‘s service to that *# * * ; community, Etheld Harris is to â€" In "the horse and buggy days," hand over the reins to Capt. Jack it was not uncommon for the Legg on July 1. 1 stprel(eeper to sell 50 or 60 bugâ€" Capt. Legg, a veteran of six ] gies a year, and about the same vears‘ service, four of them overâ€" | number of light harness sets. seas, will take over the complete He saw handâ€"style metal pumps business with the exception of ! replace the older style wooden the chopping mill. pumps, and recalls the year Mr. Harris reminisces freely when 100 of the "newâ€"fangled about his years al the store and | Pumps," were put into operation the joys and sorrows, laughs and in the small community, lears, and just plain living which Less than a week ago George have been tied up about those few Smibert had repaired a pump buildings could make an excellent | which Mr, Harris had sold him setting for a John Buchan novel. | imore than 30 years ago. * # # During his first year Mr. Harris The corner building of the ran what was termed in those group, situated on No. 4 highway days "a general store," but he deâ€" at the intersection of the 13th cided to branch out. He took on concession of London Township, the implement business. was once a hotel. The original . * * * "Birr Hotel" property was deâ€" He purchased the Lumsden stroyed by fire more than a cenâ€" property, which at one time held. tury ago and the present strueâ€" | & shoe factory and repair shop, ture‘ was erected some 50 years | and a locksmith plant operated ago. by a Mr./ Lumsden. Some years Back in the days when the later he purchased the Birr Hotel men did the family‘s drinking, property operated by people callâ€" and liquor was a matter of both ed Birr. In spite of a desire on quality and quantity, the "liquor the pa,rt_of some to suggest that cellar" of the store was well .Lhe family gave the community stocked and the hotel‘s bar was its name, this is denied by highly regarded. Still on view | others who maintain it is named is the . "liquor cellar door" where for a village in Ireland, inebriates were "rolled oul," long k The hotel was converted into before Mr. Harris‘ lenure of ] a community hall and was known office, as owner of the building. as "Birr _ Winter Gardens." T The modetrn dwelling adjoining | is now used as a storage (lep(')l-‘ the main part of the store reâ€" | and apartments, The hotel barn placed the outmoded "liquor | was renovated into a chopping cellar," which was torn down. ° and rolling mill, but was deâ€" * *# *., stroyed by fire a year later Mr. Harris‘ immediate predeâ€" * * x * cessor was George Porter, who | _ In only five weeks the mill was had operated the store for some | trebuilt and in operation agair{ three years, and records indicate Five years later additional elle' that the property bad previously | vator space was constructed To: changed hands often. day the mill is Diesel Ol)el‘.ated Years ago, when Mr. Harris has _ modern machinery _ and entered the business field, he cleaners, and a 20â€"ton s n]( drove to London once a week without weights, caie to make bis purchases and dray E Mr. Harris also entered â€"{1 bis heavy merchandise with a | lumber and builderg su l:m team o( horses,. As time and business, with more than fiogpfles transportation evolved the genâ€" of _ covered lumber shed ro h: eral merchant progressed from In 1928 he added a malolms. teams and lorries, to the use of | ling sideline to his ent i~hand. presentâ€"day gasolineâ€"motivated | establishment, and alén elpll§111g- {rucks, } the community with a _oh.°Vlded Mr.â€" Harris recalls with a ] planing mill to combing I}Yement chuckle his first carcâ€"a oneâ€"cylâ€" turyâ€"old business ande| Us cenâ€" inder 1910 Brush car, which is | with ultra modern _ ‘vildings long since extinct tand ‘Corgollen and methods. equipment both by modernâ€" manufacturers To safeguard hig ; b and Arivers), with its wooden | investment Mr. Ham-jg“ stantial axels, carbide lights, and chainâ€" fire protection with akgrpl‘o\’lded drive apparatus. 20 oue lon reservoir, a 500-fo ‘?’00.0 galâ€" "Yes," he Jlaughed, "it would | steel pipe and hose *L lime , of do a nice 25 miles an houp on equipment is acequ‘ ' P“ml)mg' snened amesioetne snn mtes " 7;_1_“(31 he [J]"'\vinls,