Ralph Bums’ home with store-and barber shop.

A general store is a great meeting place and this one was no exception. For many years it remained open for business every weekday evening. October was traditionally a busy time of year for during that month the farmers would hire “Feriners” (as one local character would say) from, up west, or Cape Breton to help with the potato harvest. Frequently, the barber shop would be busy long past ten or eleven o’clock in the evening. These were long days of standing on one’s feet, but customers experiences told through stories and/or exaggerations gave a light heart to go along with the tired feet.

Some of the valued clerks who assisted through the years were Ken Smith, Ted Wedge, Rena McCarville, Eunice (Burns) Adams, Wanda (Francis) Stevenson, Wilna Warren and others.

Ralph closed the store in 1966 after Mary became ill and was unable to continue. Ironically, the era of the small general store was also ending. Everyone had a car and money for gas. Town supermarkets, which came into vogue, continue to provide a wider selection of goods. However, they do not and can never provide the neighbourly atmosphere and friendly service which Ralph and Mary’s store gave Freetown and district.

Submitted by Byron Burns

OTHER GENERAL STORES The earliest recorded store at Freetown was operated by Albert Craig, who came from Bedeque in 1880. He purchased land (code 40) at Upper Freetown and built the store that was later operated by Robert Auld. Mr. Craig operated his store until 1888, when he moved to Emerald and began a similar business in that community. His nephew, Bert Craig, took over the business at Freetown. He had been a clerk for his uncle and thus had the necessary experience. Bert Craig continued the business until 1906, when he sold out to David H. Auld. Mr. Craig moved to Vancouver, BC. and established an extensive lumbering business.

In the early 1900’s Ward McCaull built a store in the village of Upper Freetown (code 40). Mr. McCaull left soon afterward to settle in the U.S.A., leaving the store to his brother, Von. Von McCaull sold White Rose gasoline and oil products and specialized in fox feed. This store was temporarily vacated when Mr. McCaull died in 1957. Eventually the business reopened when Garnet Warren purchased the building and moved it across the road (code 72). Mr. Warren sold groceries and other supplies until the mid 1970’s.

Ray Clow opened a store in Upper Freetown around 1920 near the location where Harold Drummond now lives (code 73). Mr. Clow had purchased a building from Sterling Burns (code 65) and moved it to the

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