A History of Elmsdale, Elmsdale West, and Brockton, Prince Edward Island

Fancy and Staple Dry Goods, Boots, Shoes, Choice Groceries, Crockery and Hard- ware. A slogan atthe bottom of the receipt reads: “If you are pleased with this pur- chase tell others, if not, tell us.”

A newspaper correspondent for the Island Farmer November 30, 1927 wrote:

Rumors of business are ripe in and about town these days and now comes the report that John Andrew Callaghan who carried on a successful mercantile business in Elmsdale for many years has leased his premises there and sold his stock in trade and will establish himself in Alberton no later than the spring of 1928. His business acumen attested by his remarkable success at Elmsdale as well as his other sterling qualities makes him in every manner a most desirable citizen.

It is believed that John Andrew never ended up getting into business in Alberton but went back to his old stand. An ad in the Island Farmer by J .A. Callahan July 3, 1929 advertised a 20% discount off all dry

goods, including new goods also spe- cial prices on flour, feed, hardware and groceries. ‘

John Andrew had a storage warehouse attached to the store, and when egg grad- ing stations began, his was located in the basement of this warehouse. There was another building where they kept oats. In the fall, when they had enough for a carload, it was bagged and shipped out by train. Another long warehouse had a basement where they stored extra feed. A coal shed was attached to the back wall of the store, from which they sold coal brought in by train. Mr. Callahan purchased milk from Emerson

John Andrew Callahan’s store, c.1942. Waldron Rix and Hardy in glass bottles with pasteboard Bennett Kelly are in the foreground.

egMacLellan Coll.

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