A history lesson about Shearer business, now the Buckhorn Home Hardware
One of the oldest buildings in town has had many alterations and a variety of owners
Of course, the name gives it away.
Bob Shearer’s father initially established this business. It was a general store, a barber shop and a gas station. The building was burnt and rebuilt and sold. It was a gathering place from which at one time a horse and buggy delivered the mail. Near its close, it was owned by Herb McKay and was a surplus store. The government bought the land to accommodate access to the new bridge built in 1975.
The hardware store owners from across the street, Wayne and Gloria Shearer, bought this land from the government in 1980 to build a new hardware store. John Shearer’s Marina and Hardware Store was in the present post office building.
The store was on two levels with the lowest level being a marina and the next level being a hardware store. It was accessed by steps on the outside of the building. John was Wayne’s dad. Wayne and Gloria bought his business in 1975 and ran the business there until 1983. In ’84 the new store built on the property across the road was opened and became Shearer’s Pro Hardware. They ran it successfully with Doris McFadden and Joan Mitchell.
In 1989, the Shearers sold the store to Don and Carol Jeremiah. In 1997 Wayne and Gloria were back in the store and stayed there until 2002 when they sold to Rob Alexander who sold to Tom Alexander in 2008. In the mid-2000s they joined the Home Hardware group which had become more prominent in the ’90s.
One of the biggest changes by the Alexanders was the addition of The Lodge to the store. According to Mike Cross, present store manager, this allowed them to grow and double the size of the store. Much of The Lodge’s merchandise is seasonal so there is a complete half flip of store merchandise every year. Cross went on to say the hardware is similar as they go from heaters to air conditioners, outdoor furniture to indoor, kayaks to snow boards.
Cross says they are thankful for the regular fall, winter, spring customers with the influx of summer cottagers keeping the business running. He sees the business here as serving the community. They do the best they can. They employ students during the summer to do the cash and stock shelves.
Regarding the Lodge, Cross says it is the oldest building in town. The actual wood in the Cody Inn is older as the wood to build it was brought in from another local building. When partiers at the Lodge had too much libation they would try to pull over the large rock in front of the building.
The rock still remains as does the Buckhorn Home Hardware in various locations and with various owners during the years.
Christmas fundraiser at Buckhorn Foodland
Buckhorn Foodland does it again! The Trent Lakes Outreach Centre received $3,025.32 in food bank donations as a result of the Christmas fundraiser at Buckhorn Foodland.
Community Chatters
And, yes, Buckhorn Foodland is involved in this story, too, providing a connection to the community through Community Chatters.
Buckhorn Community Care volunteers provide on the third Tuesday of each month an opportunity for community members to get together with coffee, tea and light refreshments at Hartley Hall at St. Matthew’s-St. Aidan’s Anglican Church in Buckhorn. From 10 a.m. to noon you will meet and greet with other seniors in our community. There will be a specialty drink every month. Blood pressure checks will happen in May. Games and presentations are on the agenda.
And how is Foodland connected? It is all free because of a grant provided by Buckhorn Foodland. You will be welcomed.