PAGE 2, WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 1977, WHITBY FREE PRESS Oldesçtfamily business in Whitbj close s The oldest family business Durham Kegion wiIl be closing August. lot of friends. But ail good *~ in Whitbv and possibly the its doors by the end of Bob Collins, proprietor of things must corne to an end -- CLOCA wIl u~-uu.v cttagesCollins Shoes, bas announced soflltine". i osfo CL C Mprhs oafl he is retlring from tli he .At the moment it oesno The Central Lake Ontario rnouth of Lynde Creek for a Conservation Authority h.iis conservation area in January received a grant of $9,000 1975, lias a program to pur- from the Ontario Ministry ch.ase a number of cottages on of Natural Resources to pur- the site from their owners, as chase three cottages ini the part of its plan to complete Lynde Shores Conservation the land acquisition. Area. The cottages were built in The conservation authority, the 1930s as a resort area which arquired land at the known as Eastborrrne Beach. "Wednesday Speci al" 4 - il f 'j,' BIC NIC- HAMBURGER, FRIESandSOfT DRINK! ONLYl1 .0 5 wi'th a shake, 11.45 eAlso Special Breakfast Menu from 6a.m.-to 11a.m. Daîiy Steak & Eggs Corn Beef & Eggs Chopped Steak & Eggs Ham & Eggs B 1IG Bacon & Eggs Wheat Cakes French Toast our Coffee only 25 cents NIC 1028Brock St. S.1 WH:ITBY, ONTARIO- business andi is iholding a six- week closing out sale which will bring to an end more than 105 years of business in Whitby. The Collins family lias been selling shoes in Whitby for four generations. The founder of the business was Matthew B. Collins, and although the words "founded in 1872" are on the front of the store, an old Whitby directory says he was in business here as %arly as 1865. One of Matthew Collin's early stores was south of the Royal Hotel. When the hotel burned in 1 872, his store was darnaged, and hie moved for a short timne 10 Dundas Street. By 1880, Mr. Collins was io,:ated on the west side of Brock Street where King's Pizza is now. He m'anufac- tured his shoes by hand, and cailed his business "The Palace Boot and Shoe Store". About 1889 or 1890, Matthew's nephew Mathias W. Collins opened another shoe store thrce doors south of his uncie, and by 1896 had bought out his uncle's stock. In i1892, Mathias Collins moved t0 the slore's present location on the east side of Brock Street South. In 1932, Mathias's son Russeli took over the business, and Bob Collins, Russell's son bought il in 1969. Bob Collins, however, had been working in the store since his hi-gh sehool days. Mr. Collins says he his closing the business but lie does not know wliether hie wili seil il. "It was a most difficit decision 10 miakc", he said. "We've establishied a relation- slhip with peuple over three or four genierations and miade a «TURN ONS Collins family is in a position to carry on the business, for Mr. Colins' two sons are still in public school. A number of factors con- tributed to Mr. Collins' decision to close the family store. Long hours, the problem of getting sufficient help in the store, and the general decline of the down- town are the main reasons, he says. Also, severe economic times are having their effect of small retail businesses, says Mr. Collins. "We are flot doing the business we should, and we do flot have as many good customers as we had", he say s. "I don't think there will be any change till we gel new buildings in the downtown". For many years Mr. Collins has been involved in trying 10 promote the down- town area. iHe was a member of the Downtown Action Committee and the Chamber of Commerce, and worked 10 get the downtown merchants interested in promotion and advertising. Mr. Collins has also been a member of the Whitby Rotary Club for many years, and was president of the club in 1963-64. In sumnming up his famly's years in business, Mr. Collins said: "We've tried t0 do the best we can to serve the Bob Collins, who is closing his family businSs after niom than 100 years of service, holds a shoe, the symbol of his trade. Collins Shoe Store has been operated by the same familý for four generations, having been founded as early as 1865. Mr. Collins is closing the business but is flot sure yet whether he is going to seil it. The store wil close by the end of August. Fe rs ht Fh upr ehePreceivedt people for over 100 years". "IWe deeply appreci,,i'te al INFORMATION HERE! Evelyn Sparks anîd Whitby Chamber of Comnierce President Gord Flanna compare notes on upcoming events ini Whitby, in front of the Chamber's information booth at the Four Corners. The 1,ooth, staffed by Miss Sparks tili the end of summer, is open Monday t'7rough Thursday from noon to 5 p.m., Fridays from noon to 8 p.m. anid Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The information booth provides a variety of materiai on the Town of Whitby, County Town Carnivai events and general tourist information. Free Press Photo- from our customerý". Jaycettes 2ndmi Canada At the recent Nationri Jaycee Convention in Toronto the Witby Jayceltes received an award for "4second most oulstanding unit in Canada" in their category. They tied with' Burlinglon, Ontario for this honour. Also at the conventioqi held aI the- Skyline Hotel, Brian Tatcheil of the Whitby Jaycees, was namned Most Outstanding Regional Director in Canada, in the category of Membership growth. Gallery director honored Linda Paulocik, Director of the Whilby Arts Station Gallery, was elected 10 the Board of Directors of the Ontario Association of Art Galleries aI ils recenl Annual Meeting in London. OAAG, as the Association is famniliarly known, hias over the past two or three years becorne increasingly influen- liai in the Ontario visual arts cornmunily through ils growing advisory and research activities. WANTED!1 iIM "DISCOUN~T"MAITLANDJ 77 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL 4 dr., luxuriaus town car model, numerous options, retail $14,550, sale price $12,300. Lic. LSA 473. 77 MERCURY GRAND MARKUIS BROUGHAM, 2 dr., hdtp., loaded with Iuxury options, retail $10,371, sale price $8,912. Lic. LYB 640. 77 COUcGAR XR7, lots of extras, including complete decour, retail $7,099, sale price $6,316. Lic. LSA 718. 77 BOBCAT -3 DR. RUNABOUT, auto., white side walls, radio, electric defrost, retail $4,386, sale price $3,957. Lic. LSA 347. 77 MONARCH 4 dr., 8 cyl., $1,200 optional equipment, retail $5,694, sale price $5,139. Lic. LMM 282. 683-55-11 C-83-5540 681-15840 1 r1lrpifTON RD. E., PICK(ERING - à WA.D. Se/b y, c.a. B.K Madge tt, C. a. Offices CiJ Roberts, c.a. R. W. Boler, c.a. Telephones 171 King Street East, Oshawa c.W. Marlowe, c.a. 578-5531 22 Waton Street. Port Ho Po 885-2335