14

Combermere General Store

After Bob and Theresa (Lepinskie) Coulas left the Valley Market store in 1959, they built and operated another general store in 1969 about 500 feet away and south of the Valley Market. The Coulas' bought out the W. L. Waddington stock from where they were located in the Hudson House. It was a general store much like the Valley Market store but also carried small hardware items such as paints, electrical, and plumbing supplies. They operated that store for many years and then Bill & Dot Weatherbed took it over in 1973. Later, Wilf Madigan and his wife Dolly purchased and operated the store. After that the business was operated by Helen Parisien but the store was owned by the Madigans. Debbie and Brian Beatty took over the business, renting it from Wilf Madigan, but unfortunately they ran the business into the ground. The store closed and was bought by Gerry Bloom and Ernie Coulas. The new owners occupied the left side of the building under the name MV Satellite and on the right side ReMax Real Estate with Cathy and Terry Pitts occupying that space. After nine years, the Pitts moved out in 2001 to locate their business in their home on Mill Street. S.O.S Transportation Services took over the right hand side in August , 2011. Syd and Elizabeth Orr operate the business.

When the Madigans owned the store, they added a second story to the building, as well as two apartments which are still used as rentals today.

15

Bob & Theresa Coulas
Circa 1955

TEXT ATTACHMENT


16

Combermere General Store as it exists today
1 March 2012
Highway 62
TEXT ATTACHMENT


17

Shulist Garage & Grocery Store

Joe and Anne (Glisinskie) Shulist operated a grocery store, a garage and gas station. The building and business was bought by the Palubiskie family and they operated the store in same fashion from 1973 to 1978. The family lived upstairs above the store. It provided similar products to that of the Blais store. Additionally, the business repaired vehicles and sold gas and oil, under an Esso station franchise. After the business closed the building was purchased by Merrill Mullen and became a laundramat with twenty washing machines and four dryers, a french fry outlet and take-out, an arcade with eight pinball machines and two pool tables. He operated this business for approximately five years in the 1970's. In the early 1970's, Merrill was also responsible for starting the 'Bathtub Races'. This annual August long weekend event was very popular with 100's of spectators every year. Local residents would make a fibreglass or wooden 'bathtub' style boat with a small outboard engine. They would race around the bay in front of the Combermere dock. It then became Dr. Bruce Harris’ medical clinic. The building is not currently occupied but was recently owned by Eddy Francis and is now owned by Andrey Kaminiski.

18

Shulist Garage
Circa 1960's
Highway 62
TEXT ATTACHMENT


19

Shulist Esso Station, Combermere
Circa 1960's
Highway 62
TEXT ATTACHMENT


20

Bathtub Races
Circa 1977
Madawaska River
TEXT ATTACHMENT


21

Dennison's General Store

It was located on the western side of the bridge approximately where the Dennison bridge park is now located. It was a true general store much like the merchandise that Valley Market Store provided. It also had Shell gas pumps outside the front store. It opened in the 1920s and was demolished in 1960 to make way for the building of the new curved concrete bridge. A residence was located next to the store ands was occupied by William Parcher for many years.

22

Dennison's store
Circa 1930's
West side of bridge, Combermere
TEXT ATTACHMENT


23

Boehme Grocery Store

This building and business named W. H. Boehme, General Merchant was created in 1946/47 by Bill and Inez Boehme on White Pine Crescent opposite the Old Methodist Cemetery. Bill Boehme was a soldier in WWII and opened the store upon his return. The original building was divided into two distinct business. On the right was a grocery store and on the left was a tea room which served light meals and drinks. Bill looked after the grocery store and Inez looked after the tea room. Inez operated a bakery for several years. The two of them operated these businesses for seven years. In 1953/54, they sold the property to Pat Fitzgerald. He, in turn, sold it to Ozzie Rochon the same year, who opened a barber shop known as 'Ye Olde Clippe Jointe'. There was an apartment upstairs which had bedrooms and an addition was put on by the Rochons.

In the basement with a separate exterior entrance, Nels, a brother of Bill Boehme had a small business selling and repairing lamps and electrical products. He operated this business from 1950 -1952. He was also an agent of McPhee's furniture of Bancroft.

The Rochon's sold the property back to Bill and Inez and they left it to their son David and is currently owned by Alan Sabatine.

24

Bill Boehme store, Combermere
Early 1950's
Highway 62
TEXT ATTACHMENT


25

O’Brien House Store

In this old hotel on the west side of the bridge, in 1918 Howie O’Brien, son of Paddy and Tillie O’Brien owners of the hotel, operated a grocery store for 7 years. The store closed in 1925. In addition to general merchandise the store sold farm equipment and supplies to the farmers.

Today this building is known as St. Joseph's House; owned by Madonna House and used as a base for selling used merchandise.

26

O' Brien House, Combermere
1911
O'Brien House Hotel
TEXT ATTACHMENT


27

Oz Miller
Circa 1940's

TEXT ATTACHMENT