Archives reveal early history of WA May

Editor:

Just after Helen Blackburn finished writing her fine article on W. A. May, I was at the Simcoe County Archives and was able to piece together the early history of the business.

May opened his tinsmithing operation in what is now the space between Victorian Values and the Creemore Kitchen.

After the building burned down in 1888 he moved his business to what was the building on the northeast corner of Mill and Edward streets, the apartment building that was torn down as part of the brewery expansion.

The building had been there for quite some time since it was the first commercial building to be erected north of the Mad River.

Dr. Fisher, a medical doctor, rented the north side and May the south side. He did not stay there long, in December of 1889 he moved the business to the newly built Leonard Block, now housing Home Hardware.

Perhaps renting didn’t suit him, for not long after, he built his own building, now the original brewery building, and moved in sometime during 1891.

Mr. May was a strong believer in advertising. In every weekly issue of The Creemore Star he had a display ad proudly announcing the various wares he had for sale and touting the latest conveniences for the household.

Paul Vorstermans,

Creemore.