North Sydney store of Christmas past

North Sydney museum honours Archie Anderson store with window display

NORTH SYDNEY — In what’s becoming an annual holiday tradition, the North Sydney Historical Society is paying tribute to a former downtown business.

While the museum has once again lit a community tree on the front lawn of its museum on Commercial Street, the window features artifacts from the Archie Anderson corner store, which the Newfoundland-born Anderson opened in 1949 after operating out of the nearby Owl Drug Store since 1927.

A gathering spot for locals to discuss the news of the day, the Union Street business specialized in tobacco products while Anderson’s wife Hilda sold needlework, knitted and sewn goods. There was also an assortment of candies, chocolate bars, chips, soda and ice cream, as well as a pinball machine that Anderson reportedly constantly supervised. The store also featured a slot machine that cost a “Newfoundland nickel” to play and rewarded winners with tobacco.

The Andersons retired in 1975 and Archie died in 1983, followed by Hilda in 1991.

Joe Meaney, president of the North Sydney Historical Society, said the artifacts were donated to the museum by Anderson’s grandson Wayne Viva after his mother Marie Viva died last year.

“She was a great friend to the museum and we miss her dearly,” said Meaney, who set up the display with Janice Stagg Harris, a close friend of Marie Viva.

“We hope the community comes out to see our tree and our windows that look beautiful at night.”

CHRIS CONNORS • CAPE BRETON POST Bill Weatherbee, a member of the North Sydney Historical Society board, looks over artifacts from the Archie Anderson store displayed in the museum’s front window.

CHRIS CONNORS • CAPE BRETON POST The former Archie Anderson store on Union Street in North Sydney.

CHRIS CONNORS • CAPE BRETON POST A selection of tobacco tins from Archie Anderson’s store in North Sydney.