Going To Town – Part 2

My parents moved our family to a ranch west of Paradise Valley in 1961 and their business center became Vermilion. It was a much further drive than Streamstown or Marwayne had been. We didn’t go very often when we were kids so when we got to go along, it was a big deal. Dad delivered cream to NADP, and picked up machinery parts from Little Implements or Ireland Farm Equipment. Mom would send him with a grocery list when she couldn’t go. The Tom Boy and Vermilion Coop were bigger grocery stores, with more selection. In later years, the Vermilion Coop cafeteria was a favorite coffee place. Dad got his harness and tack repairs done at Bill’s Leather repair shop. They were also patrons of Vermilions Hardware stores; McLeod’s, Coop, and Merit. Vic Dowhaniuk kept Mom’s many prescriptions for asthma and allergies straight, better known as Vic’s Pharmacy. Mom didn’t drive and that still amazes me! My siblings and I all learned to drive at a young age and still do. She never learned to drive and always depended on Dad. I bought a Ford truck from Webbs one year after I learned to drive and was proud to take her place. In fact, Mom had many drivers after we all started to drive. She still preferred Dad of course! They were like 2 peas in a pod! I bought my first Samsonite suitcase at Craigs Department Store when I was 14 with a portion of my 4-H calf money. I still have it; I’m sure it’s an antique by now, still in good condition. (Craigs was always one of my favorite stores, they were a class act!) Us girls always browsed the shelves in Longs Drugs shopping for the perfect gift and makeup! I remember stopping at the Hub Café for a burger and fries. As teenagers Dad sometimes would take us to Vermilion and drop us off for a movie and right beside the theatre was a candy store with a huge selection of mouth-watering candies; candy necklaces & bracelets, Lucky elephant popcorn, humbugs, licorice, jaw breakers, bazooka gum, Cuban lunch, you get the picture! We would get our fill of sugar for sure! Our Mom was an expert shopper, she had to be with 10 kids. She knew prices and where to find everything. Some of my sisters have acquired that skill, (I did not) and I occasionally tag along with them and reap the benefits too.

There was a country store 13 miles northwest of our place called Tolland Store. It was a great place to pick up a few groceries and they had a cool old “Visible” gas pump there as well. Many visitors would stop there for gas and admire it. Betty and Art Lysons were lovely storekeepers. I remember the huge roll of bologna in their glass cooler and the string that hung from the ceiling, and they would wrap any meat or cheese in paper and tie it with that string. They had a little bit of everything there. It was a beautiful old store. It was also a UFA farm station. They delivered fuel and had a dock with oil and grease products. Dad was a UFA customer. Some of my siblings and friends decided to take the trail on horseback to Tolland Store for fun one day starting from our place; “it’s only 13 miles they said”! It took the best part of a day there and back! They were pretty tuckered but they had lots of fun!

Going to town these days is quite different from back then, and they are memories I’ll cherish forever!