That grand old store the Sydney Mines Co-operative stood proudly for generations serving the people of the area. They boasted about carrying everything and it almost did with it bakery , dairy , feed shed and home delivery service. It was a way of life seldom seen and sorely missed by the folks in our town.
The store was a full service store with departments where you could buy virtually everything. It is gone now but not forgotten. How could you forget going in the store and heading to the second floor where you waited in line at twenty to nine knowing you were having an exam in a few minutes. You were there to buy three sheets of foolscap for a penny a sheet and wrapped in brown paper and tied with a string. Magnificent. The clerks were so fast that all made it in time to write those God forsaken exams three times a year.
The neat thing about this transaction was that you need no money , only a number When the clerk handed you the paper you shouted , put it on momma or 517 Brown. The clerk responded to both answers as she knew everyone and made out a check in triplicate. You watched as she or he placed the check in a little carrier and plunged the carrier into a tube. If you were fast you could follow the carrier making it way to the office where a clerk took the cheques and registered it to your account. She then placed the registered check back in the carrier and as it made its return trip you watched the clock.
It only took about 2 minutes for the transaction but you had your foolscap and a copy of the deal.There was a lot of interpersonal relationships built up in that store and we miss that aspect of shopping today.We used rolls of paper in those days as plastic was only a dream and string was used to tie the parcel. The string was dangling above every counter and the clerks reached for it and never missed a beat. Their knots were perfect and the package perfect no matter how big or what shape.
Today as I shopped at Superstore there was a big difference. Everyone was carrying bags made of cloth or another material to carry out their groceries. The government ruled that plastic had to be paid for at a cost to the customer around 5 cents per bag. You however would be given points or up to 10 cents for every bag you used that was your own. How quickly this reformed our shopping habits. It is green yes as makes us all responsible for our environment.
We loved the old Co-op but it was anything but green.
The store was a full service store with departments where you could buy virtually everything. It is gone now but not forgotten. How could you forget going in the store and heading to the second floor where you waited in line at twenty to nine knowing you were having an exam in a few minutes. You were there to buy three sheets of foolscap for a penny a sheet and wrapped in brown paper and tied with a string. Magnificent. The clerks were so fast that all made it in time to write those God forsaken exams three times a year.
The neat thing about this transaction was that you need no money , only a number When the clerk handed you the paper you shouted , put it on momma or 517 Brown. The clerk responded to both answers as she knew everyone and made out a check in triplicate. You watched as she or he placed the check in a little carrier and plunged the carrier into a tube. If you were fast you could follow the carrier making it way to the office where a clerk took the cheques and registered it to your account. She then placed the registered check back in the carrier and as it made its return trip you watched the clock.
It only took about 2 minutes for the transaction but you had your foolscap and a copy of the deal.There was a lot of interpersonal relationships built up in that store and we miss that aspect of shopping today.We used rolls of paper in those days as plastic was only a dream and string was used to tie the parcel. The string was dangling above every counter and the clerks reached for it and never missed a beat. Their knots were perfect and the package perfect no matter how big or what shape.
Today as I shopped at Superstore there was a big difference. Everyone was carrying bags made of cloth or another material to carry out their groceries. The government ruled that plastic had to be paid for at a cost to the customer around 5 cents per bag. You however would be given points or up to 10 cents for every bag you used that was your own. How quickly this reformed our shopping habits. It is green yes as makes us all responsible for our environment.
We loved the old Co-op but it was anything but green.
I have a feeling I would have L-O-V-E-D this place. You really do it justice, I could almost see it as I read this post. :)
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