The Shops of the 215

by Angela Sanford

   Each weekend, as I deliver the bulletins, I have the opportunity to step into the past several times over. Each little store along the way that houses a distribution point for the bulletin seems to hold a story of its own — a reminder of a time when small community shops were woven into everyday life along the shoreline.

   Recently, another of those little shops closed its doors: the Walton General Store. Residents will surely miss both its convenience and its familiar presence. Now, the nearest stores are in Cheverie or at North Noel Road. Both locations have plenty to offer, but the added distance is significant — especially with the rising cost of gas and for those who may not have regular access to transportation.

   I often think back to a childhood when the shoreline was dotted with several general stores. I remember my grandfather taking me to Laffin’s store, tucked midway between Conley’s and the old Co-op, where an orange creamsicle seemed like the greatest treat imaginable. Later, as a teenager, my friends and I would make our way (almost daily in the summertime)to Conley’s or the Co-op, wandering down the road on bicycles in search of snacks, cold drinks, and somewhere to gather.

   Then there was Margaret and Chester’s store at the end of Northfield Road — another favourite stop from my younger years. Chester and the local men would often sit around the wood stove swapping stories while we children picked out candy nearby. In those days, there were four different stores between the Noel corner and Northfield Road alone.

   And that’s not even counting the old canteen now known as Central Tire, or in my day it was the garage where I bought what felt like hundreds of jawbreakers over the years. Sunday drives to Grammy Pat’s in Tennecape occasionally included a stop at Curtis’ store or Lingard’s canteen.

  At one time, Highway 215 felt like a metropolis of little shops and gathering places for community members and visitors, alike.

   These are the stores that bring back memories for me, but I’m sure there are more that others — especially those older than I — could recall along this stretch of the 215. While it’s wonderful that our area can still boast the oldest general store in Canada, it is also unfortunate that many of the other little community shops could not survive and thrive alongside the growing tourism in our communities.

   My first official job was stocking shelves at the Noel Co-op. I was fortunate that Dad, who managed the store at the time, was willing to hire me. Before long, I was also working at the ice cream stand beside the store. Looking back now, I realize those little shops were never just places to buy milk, bread, or candy. They were meeting places, landmarks, and part of the rhythm of daily life in our communities.

   As tourism along the shore continues to grow, perhaps there is still room to remember the value of the small local shop — the kind of place where visitors and neighbours alike once stopped not only for supplies, but for conversation and connection.

   And maybe, just maybe, we can rekindle the spirit of shopping local and help breathe new life into the businesses along Highway 215 — and perhaps, in some small way, the bulletin can continue to do its part by supporting the little shops that remain.