14

Simply Country
2010
Bentley, Alberta


Credits:
Bentley Museum Society

15

Romona's Hairstyling & Boutique - 2005
2005
Bentley, Alberta


Credits:
Bentley Museum Society

16

Across the street, heading east, we come to Bentley Garage, (4941 50 Ave) originally built by Frank and Percy Thorp after the 1916 fire destroyed their first garage. They had the North Star Oil Agency and sold Overland and Wills-Knight cars. The Thorps generated electricity from here to service some residents of Bentley. Upon retirement, Wilfred Thorp and Eugene Blish succeeded them, followed by Bill Peterson. Other s taking over later were Ian Martin, and Elmer Calkins & Lawerence Greif. Elmer and Lawerence decided to install gas pumps out front. One of them got some dynamite and proceeded to lay the charge. The partner was a little skeptical and wanted to know of his partner if he knew how to handle this explosive. He was assured there would be no problem. His partner thought maybe they should cover up the glass front. The dynamite expert ensured all would be fine. He knew what he was doing. Anyway all was set. When the dynamite blew it broke all the windows in the front. Needless to say, the explosion expert had to pay for the glass out of his own pocket. Walter Schnelle was the next to run a garage out of this location When Walter left, the building was put to other uses. In the early 70's Neil Rietema purchased the building and property. Mr. Rietema used the building as a storage facility in conjunction with his Farm and Feed business on 50th Street south. Derek Dickau purchased the property in 1974 from Neil Rietema, and operated Bentley Agencies in the front of the building. The back was leased to various businesses; Turnbull Plumbing, Lorne Elliott, Allen Boettger and Mike Ramirez, to name a few. Bentley Agencies built a new building just east of the hotel in 1993. The old building was sold to Doctor Rodger Giesbrecht in 1994. Rodger operates Bentley Chiropractic.
East of the Bentley Garage, Bill Peterson built a hardware store (4937 - 50 Ave.), with a large shop at the rear to service Massey Harris machinery. Bill was also the Massey Harris agent. Bill sold to the Sevignys, who later sold to Otto Sartorius, who ran a bakery. Otto remodeled the rear of the building for use as living quarters. Otto also gave the front a facelift in 1977. The building was purchased by Chris Wiese in 2004 who opened up an accounting office. She rents the living quarters out at the back. Now, 2010 Chris has leased the front out to Shajani LLP, who operate an accounting business.
The next building was the butcher shop which was rebuilt after the 1916 fire. The Damrons delivered meat all over the country side. Later Bert and Lulu thorp joined the business and started a bakery. In 1936 Wifred Thorp and Fred Marriott took over the butcher shop selling out later to Caleb and Ralph Morison. The Morison brothers added the frozen food lockers at the rear in 1949. Alvin Freeman and Mr. Andresson succeeded them and were joined by Harold Wilton who acquired the business. When Harold retired he sold the business to Jack Monette. The Huehns' owned and operated the Bentley Meat Market in conjunction with their grocery store. the meat market remained empty and finally was demolished. Years later an apartment building was constructed on the site with a business shop in the front. This business front has never opened its doors.
The Union Bank erected a bank building on the next lot east (4929 - 50 Ave.). The Merchants Bank also had a branch. In 1921 the Merchants was amalgamated with the Bank of Montreal. About the sme time the Royal Bank took over the Union Bank and moved their branch to Alix. The Bank of Montreal then took over the Union Bank building.When the Bank of Montreal moved across the street the Bank building was sold to Pat and Nora Lavery who did some renovating and opened up a small shop, "Next to New". The Laverys lived upstairs for a short time and then rented the upstairs out. The Laverys sold to Olga Achymichuk. Olga sold to Allen and Maureen Ellard in about 1998. Presently the Ellards and the Borgfjords operate Mama GooseThey manufacture andsell funeral and pet urns.
Bob Woolgar built the next building east of the bank. It was a stucco job with an addition on the east side of concrete blocks which he had manufactured himself. The first part was occupied by the Bird Drug Store, and operated by John McQuenn in 1919. He was succeeded by Faye Johnson. Grant Sanders followed him but moved to his own building across the street in 1939. The drug store closed and Jerry Leach opened a variety store here. Dick and Fern Rooke followed in the same business (5 Cents to 1 Dollar).This building was demolished and in 2000, Lavern and Kay McCaig purchased the vacant lot. Lavern and his partner Bill Parkins (L&K Enterpize) used the lot to sell cars and trucks. In 2009, due to illness Lavern sold his half of the business to Bill. Lavern passed away in 2009 and Bill operates the business himself.It is interesting to note that towards the back of this lot and a little to the east was the location of the the dray barns.
Mearl McKilligan, who was chief operator for telephones, had a new office built on this next lot (4921 - 50 Ave.). She continued as an operator until A.G. T. built a new exchange and automatic phones made their debut in Bentley. The building was used as a residence for a few years and when Dr. Hoffman arrived he used it as his office. When Dr. Hoffman left Bentley the building reverted back to a residence. In 2001 Janice Cadman purchased the building and operated Bentley Video Rentals. A few years later she sold the building and property to Colleen Caw who operates a beautiful, interesting gift shop, "Simply Country".
The next building was built by Dr. W. A. Henry for use as his office (4917 - 50 Ave.). It was used as a Doctor's office for years, up to the time of Dr. McKendrick. Dr. McKendrick sold the building and property when he left Bentley. Derek Dickau and Everett Haarstad purchased the property in 1976 and opened a convenience store. In two or three years time they sold the convenience store to Mrs. Shirley Hill. Shirley sold to Donna Morrison (Glendinning). Donna added living quarters to the back and continued operating the convenience store and also a sub kiosk on the side. Cliff and Cora Knutson moved Bentley Video Rentals from the Wine building to the empty confectionary store, in 1997. The Knutsons sold ice cream and candies along with the video rentals. They sold the business to Janice Cadman in 2001. Janice moved the business to her own building next door. Donna Glendinning continues to live in the residence but the front has been closed for a few years.
Next door is the Blindman Valley Co-operative Association building. When the pool came to an end the office was taken over by John Somshor, he operated a real-estate and insurance office. Mrs. Jean Fraser succeeded him and operated an office for Co-operative Insurance. Jean retired and eventually sold the building to Romona Ridinger, who operates a hair saloon and resides in the back.
A vacant lot next door was owned by various people a few of them were Dale & Joanne Yost, Cliff & Cora Knutson and Brenda Watson. Finally a duplex was constructed on this site.Next door and on the corner is the Bentley United Church (4901 - 50 Ave.)