Santa obviously knew a good place to shop for toys
When my sister and I were little, we listened to Santa Claus live from the North Pole on CFRB radio at 6 p.m. during December.
The program began with the song, “Toyland, joy land good little girl and boy land.” Santa told us that he had a wonderful Toyland at the North Pole but we knew that the W.A. May Hardware and Gift shop in Creemore had a far better Toyland at the back of the store. We spent many Saturday afternoons admiring the toys and deciding what we would like best from Santa. And Santa wisely did a little shopping at the May store. He obviously knew a good place to shop for toys. The May store is long gone and now Creemore Springs Brewery has taken over the building.
Mr. and Mrs. May knew they were providing an excellent source of goods and services for the local people but I wonder if they knew the happiness they brought to the children.
W.A. May died in 1942 and the following is his obituary that appeared in a Creemore Star.
“W.A. May died at his home in Creemore at 9 a.m. Tuesday morning, December 8, in his 85th year.
“He had been gradually failing for the past month but was never confined to bed. Monday he was up as usual and had risen on Tuesday morning and was washing himself when the seizure took place. It can truthfully be said that he died on his feet.
“Mr. May, who was born at Cannington, first came to Creemore in 1881. He established a tinsmithing and hardware business, which he handled successfully for over 61 years. In 1882 he married Sarah Ellen Christian of Port Perry who proved a wonderful helpmate. She predeceased him in April 1938.
“The young businessman did not always have smooth sailing. His first store was wiped out by fire in 1888. He had vision and determination because he right away decided to rebuild. The splendid brick block, which replaced his original store, was a gigantic effort but it fulfilled his ambition that was to have the best hardware store in any small town in Ontario.
“Mr. May had faith in Creemore and was ever ready to boost any project that was for the good and welfare of the village. He gave liberally and justly earned ability to civic enterprises, served in various capacities without reward. He was a member of St. Luke’s Anglican church and its interests were his interests. He gave liberally and justly earned the gratitude of the Rector and church officials. He belonged to several fraternal organizations. He was a charter member of Nitetis Masonic Lodge, serving as treasurer of the Lodge since it was instituted 45 years ago.
“Mr. May is survived by three sons and two daughters: William I., with the Canadian Oil Co., Toronto; Harris is at Lethbridge, Alberta, and Arthur is the manager of the business in Creemore; Florence and Nellie are also associated with the business in Creemore. He is also survived by one brother, Mr. George May of Winnipeg, and a niece, Miss Annie Craige, who has made her home with him for the past five years.”
Thanks to Paul Vorstermans, who has spent considerable time searching through old Creemore Stars, we have a little information about how Mr. May survived the burning of his business in 1888. However it is not clear where he set up business.
The ads in the paper tantalizingly remark that he is one door south of Dr. Fisher’s residence.
We don’t know where that could be. In August 1889 it was reported, “May’s new building [was] going rapidly ahead. The brickwork [was] about finished and the plastering [had] begun.”
The reporter reflected that, “It has a very good general appearance and will be one of the best constructed buildings in the village.”
