Moreston Village at Grey County’s Grey Roots Museum and Archives has a new general store.
The brightly painted blue Arnott General Store is the newest building in the heritage village.
Curator Sim Salata says, “We’ve got all kinds of counters and display cases which are unique and vintage from various places around Grey County. Some of them were procured in Simcoe County. Then we’ve got two lovely red oak floor to ceiling cabinets, one on each side.
Salata says a typical store of that era would have floor to ceiling cabinets when you walk in.
“We got those made locally by Charles Davies Fine Furniture. They’re full of vintage and antique and replicated early 20th century products that you’d find in a general store,” says Salata, listing food, cans, bottles of ketchup, vinegar, pickles and other items.
“Then at the back we’ve got another long counter with a cheese cutter and a coffee grinder and a grain mill and a raisin seeder on it,” says Salata, noting they’re all hand-cranked.
Salata says beyond that, is a little sewing shop, explaining “We wanted to bring more women’s stories into the history of Moreston Village. Since we interpret the village at 1925, this building is specifically dated to 1925. The storyline is that a lot of women after the First World War were left as widows and had to support themselves for the first time, so they opened up businesses and shops and things like that.”
The village and general store is now open. A grand opening ceremony and ribbon was held recently
Salata says looking ahead, Grey Roots may eventually sell some candies that reflect the era, as that was a top question at the opening ceremony.
The general store joins an 1853 pioneer log cabin, a pioneer blacksmith shop, an 1886 log house, an engine works building, a 1920s farmhouse, a 1920s barn, a 1920s school house, a sawmill, a garage and another blacksmith shop.
Grey Roots is open seven days a week 10a.m. to 5a.m. The Moreston Heritage Village is open from 11a.m.to 4p.m.