[ISL] "The History of Clow’s Store"

[rfmcdonald]

Islanders may well be interested in the lecture described by Peter Rukavina, an oral history of a country store delivered by one of the owners. Non-Islanders may be interested in the social history.

For the five years, 1995 to 2000, that Catherine and I lived on the Kingston Road, Clow’s Red & White in Hampshire was our lifeline. Bobby and Verna and Norman and their staff were a daily part of our lives.

The store is still there – one of the last few rural general stores left on the Island – and I make a point of gassing up my car there whenever I’m in the area. Even though I haven’t lived nearby for 15 years, and am only in the door once or twice a year, they still call me by name at the cash.

Coming up on Saturday, February 6th, from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Verna Clow will present “The History of Clow’s Store” at the Riverview Community Centre in Clyde River as part of the Clyde River Lectures for 2016:

Country stores were an important part of the fabric within Island communities over the years. Many did not survive, but Clow’s Store in Hampshire is still thriving. Verna will talk about the history of their store from the early days when Albert Clow first founded it. Her presentation will include photos of the store over the years and how they changed with the times while maintaining strong customer loyalty. She will share some of her favourite stories.