By Carson Ellis
In 1905 N.B McGillivray, who would become the town of Stettler’s first mayor, as well as sit on many of the early boards of the town, opened a furniture store in the fledgling community. His first store was less than a block north of its current location.
The first freight train into Stettler was carrying furniture for McGillivray’s store. A few years later, McGillivray would relocate to a more central location on the town’s main drag.
McGillivray ran a successful business in the heart of Stettler, eventually serving customers as far east as Coronation. McGillivray passed away in July of 1944, but his family continued to run the business.
However, in March of 1958, a fire started in the building and spread to the neighbouring bakery owned by Mr. Dick Webster. The fire caused some damage to the neighbouring Co-operative grocery (now John’s Clothing) and the Builder’s Hardware on the other side of the bakery. A new building was erected, and McGillivray and Co. operated out of the Stettler Hotel for a short while.
The lot where McGillivray was located, was sold and the new business was Sim’s Furniture. Mr. George Sinclair was the general manager and president of Sim’s. Sim’s Furniture remained in business until it was sold again and renamed Wells’ Furniture in 1972 when it was bought by Mr. Dick Wells who operated it until 1991. He then sold it to Mr. Calvin Blauel. Blauel kept the name Wells Furniture, up until he sold the company in 1996 to its current owner Bernadette (Bernie) Jackson, who has run the store for 20 years, often times with members of her family working alongside her.
Furniture has changed over the years, and so has the people who sell it. But it’s interesting to think that for more than 100 years, one location has sold nothing but furniture.
