Late Friday afternoon, another piece of Emo history disappeared, and with it, much more memories of the past decades.
Harold McQuaker Enterprises, with Dale McQuaker at the controls of the wrecking crane, demolished Fairway Store in a space of one hour.
Onlookers including the Loney family and relatives, who watched in dismay how quickly a building can be taken down.
Removal of the debris was completed by the family-operated business on Saturday, making way for surfacing on the parking lot area.
Part owner of Cloverleaf Shop-Easy Foods, Mark Loney was not sure when the surfacing will commence. “Hopefully soon,” he said.
There are very few names of former businessmen to be found in Emo today, but if one visited the cemetery on the outskirts of the town, most of these names could be found on the tombstones.
This makes me recall the lines from Gray’s Elegy: “Each in his narrow cell forever laid, the rude forefathers of our hamlet sleep.”
When the new highway skirted the northern part of the village, a number of fine businesses located there. Most of these are owned by men with new names, though the Fairway Store was owned by Ted Corrigan and Alex Ogden, both grandsons of pioneers.
It later was taken over by Kent Ogden and Brian Reid, and as of late sold to Cloverleaf Grocery who operated that store on Front Street.
It was always a family affair. Fairway Store was a business started by Mrs. Ramsdale in her home.
It was a busy centre. I remember being told, every time a customer paid up their bill, each child in that family would receive a small package of candy, a token of appreciation. These tokens have all but disappeared and give-aways are hard to come by. (Usually you will find Super Stores have introductory offers to draw customers.)
With the removal of Fairway Store over the weekend and surrounding area now cleaned-up, Cloverleaf Shop-Easy Foods will be what the public wanted—a modern, up-to-date business with a full line of products on display, from fruit, meat, and bakery, to the cake walk, and to a small coffee shop for the customers to relax while shopping.
Cloverleaf itself has an interesting historical background that the Times published a story about a few months ago.
Although you will see frequently brothers, Mark and Dan, milling around in the new store, Mark and Dan’s father, David Loney and Uncle Bill Loney are still around watching the performance (although David has told me he has retired, you sometimes wonder how they can still carry on, just to have something to do).
The staff at the new business will see an increase, as employees from Front Street Cloverleaf will move over.
Another Emo landmark has hit the dust. Sorry to see it disappear, but it developed and brought about a new look and convenience to the community and district.
Other areas of improvement can be seen around the hamlet. Border Sales and Service has revamped its business operated by Dave Goodman, with a new show room, a three-stall garage, more space in the front desk area, etc. And Calvary Baptist Church is nearing completion with a different entrance, and expanded areas in the building.
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