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A binder used by Mrs. J.D. Mitchell in 1900 to store her invoices and other business papers.
April, 2003
Oyster Pond, Nova Scotia

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In 2003, the Heritage Society opened a Genealogy and Archives Research Centre and began the process of archiving five and a half metres of store records. Thousands of papers were cleaned, described, and filed in an archival storage area. These records proved invaluable in dating artifacts and especially in determining what items a1940s store would have stocked.

The binder in this picture is typical of how Mrs. J.D. Mitchell kept her records. All invoices and correspondence were hole punched and stored in alphabetical order by supplier. Because the binders were inside cases, the records from the 1891-1918 period are generally in better condition than the later records.

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Original box containing envelopes from 1936 when 'Willie O' was running the store.
April, 2003
Oyster Pond, Nova Scotia

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This box is typical of how Willie O stored his business records. Each envelope contains the invoice that was sent to Willie O in that envelope. He used the envelope to record his balance owing, and to remind himself when the payment was due. After he was done with the envelope it was stored in a box and the box was tied with twine, marked with the year, and stored. This picture shows the box just after it was opened. Occasionally, he bundled the envelopes of one supplier together in chronological order (usually Bolands Limited).

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Funeral invoice: T.H. Stoddard
18 April 1941
Oyster Pond, Nova Scotia

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The archiving of the store records has proved invaluable. While many of the records represent the regular transactions of the store, occasionally an "odd" invoice will mark a local business and enhance our knowledge of the community.

This invoice from the local undertaker marks the death of Roxie Hosking, and gives insight into the business of carpenter / undertaker. From there the Society can ask questions, and occasionally be let in on a forgotten story.

This invoice did precisely that, and Mr. Mitchell revealed some astonishing memories of old Tom Stoddard in this 2004 interview:

"If somebody died, and he needed help, he took the first young feller that he saw. And we never liked that. Yep, but, we would always go and help him as much as we could, but sneaked off, wait out in the truck for him. He always had a half ton truck. He'd just say "Git in here." And you'd get in, till you were half scared. And you go wherever he was taking you. He'd generally; he would have an empty casket on the back of the truck. So you'd have to take that. He would try to fix up the body, but you'd try to get out of his way, out of sight as much as you could. Till he'd call you for something and you'd have to come. I suppose the other young fellers he done the same with. That you were there to help him get the body in, and the heavy lifting, and stuff like that. And sometimes I believe he would have to, if they wanted something special done to the body, we would go get the body and load it, in the casket or something. And he'd take it to town. So, then when he would come back, you would help him again there."

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Mildred Hosking sits inside the restored store at Memory Lane Heritage Village
August, 2003
Lake Charlotte, Nova Scotia

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Hosking store 2002
2002
Lake Charlotte, Nova Scotia