Building History
1879 - In 222 Josephine Street, Joseph Reading had a book store and Alex
Dawson offered tailoring services in 1879. George Green owned the building. At
224 Josephine Street, there was a jewelry store run by George Clarke and a
harness shop run by O. Andrus in 1879.
1888 - This block was divided into
two stores. One was Robert Hills' City Restaurant (222 Josephine Street) and the
other was E. Dinsley's jewelry store (224 Josephine Street).
1894 - G.
Green bought the building.
1900 -Reverend Burwash retired to Wingham
after 40 years of the ministry and bought Hill's in July 1900. W. John moved the
City Restaurant out of the building. Its space was made into a general store for
Burwash's son-in-law, H.E. Isard. New shelving, counters and plate glass windows
were installed and the entire building was painted. Isard sold dress goods,
hosiery, gents' furnishings, mantles, gloves, dry goods, hats, caps, boots,
shoes and groceries. It opened on September 22, 1900. The Burwash and Isard
families lived above the shop, until Rev. Burwash bought the home of J.A. Cline.
He moved there in November 1900.
1901 - Campbell moved Bell Telephone to
the Green Block. At that time there were almost 100 phones in use. (224
Josephine Street)
1905 - A 30 foot storage area was added to the back of
the store. A rapid cash system was also added to the store. Overhead steel
wires, suspended from the ceiling ran to the various selling areas. When a sale
was made, the bill and cash were placed in a container and zipped long the wire
to the office. The bill was receipted and change was sent back to the clerk.
(222 Josephine Street)
1911 - H.E. & Co. Isard bought the northern
half of the building (224 Josephine Street) from the G. Green estate and made it
into one store, Isard's. The two stores were combined by cutting an archway
through the wall near the office in the original store. The original store was
reserved for ladies' wear, dry goods, floor coverings and groceries. The new
store was exclusively for men's wear.
1922 - A new stairway was built to
the second floor in the first shop.
1924 - A new front was installed on
the men's shop (224 Josephine Street).
1944 - H.E. Isard
died.
1945 - The two stores were separated again. The dry goods store
(222 Josephine Street) was sold to Norman Wellwood in 1945. James and Bert Isard
still operated Isard's menswear (224 Josephine Street). They operated this store
until 1953.
1952 - N. Wellwood sold the store to Athol Purdon. It became
known as Purdon's (222 Josephine Street)
1953 - B. Isard sold to Earl
O'Bright (224 Josephine Street).
1959 - Athol Purdon sold to W.J. Gordon
(222 Josephine Street).
1961 - W.J. Gordon sold to John (Jack) S. and Beatrice Hayes, who opened
Haye's Clothing in the southern part of the building (222 Josephine Street).
1979 - Hayes' catered to working people, looking for medium priced
clothing. There was no carpeting on the floor to get dirty if customers came in
after work. They carried a large selection of work clothes, including boots,
gloves, hats, pants and shirts. Jan Benninger, the Haye's daughter worked at the
store. In 1979, it featured an old staircase, wooden floor and old fashioned
ceiling.
1979 - The northern store was the site of the Ernie King's
Music Centre (224 Josephine Street), which gave way to the Wingham Sewing
Centre.
2004 - Pandora's Pantry is located in the southern part of the
building. They are a good source for natural foods and medications. Coldwell
Banker Real Estate is in the northern section of the building.
Jodi JeromeBuildings: Commercial
Gender: Male
Landscape: Urban
People: Single
Transport: Car
Type: Image
Work: Commerce