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Bill of Sale, July 17, 1948

GOIN’ TO THE CORNER

Alton Hardy Coll.

shipper was James Johnston local merchant. He also ships an occasional load of hay.”

In March 1949 the store was heavily dam- aged by fire, which started around 9:00 pm. shortly after the store closed. A motorist pass- ing by alerted the owners. A bucket brigade was formed until the Alberton Fire Depart- ment arrived. In May, Jim had a fire sale to dispose of $10,000 worth of goods and in June his store was re—decorated and opened for business. An ad found in the Summerside Journal June 20, 1948 stated that the store would be open to 7:30 pm. on weekdays and till 10:00 pm. on Saturdays and that phone orders would be delivered. Mr. Johnston also bought eggs, timothy seed and had a clean— ing plant. At Christmas time there was a spe— cial sale from December 21St to December 24th and the store was open weeknights until 9:30 pm. In April 1951 Jim bought the poul- try killing plant, formerly the property of the late Basil MacNeill, and hauled it from the

old site on the railway property to the site of his new home on the Western Road. Before that Jim and his wife Hattie (Mountain) Johnston had lived in a small house behind their store where Everett Williams once lived. Staff known to have worked for Jim were: Lois Williams, Margaret Williams, Christine Hardy, Jean Hudson, Mary Murray and Ruby Adams. Edgar Johnston was their egg grader. From the Journal—Pioneer April 1, 1953 in the Elmsdale Notes: “Sometime Thursday night the general store of J .D. Johnston was broken into and a quantity of cigarettes and other goods along with silver money were taken. Entry was made by breaking open

a rear door.”

364