STORES
Lemp's Drug Store
In 1948 this firm was known as John Lemp & Son, druggists. It was on July 7, 1905, that John Lemp, Jr. purchased the drug store business, and it is now one of the oldest continuously active in our Village. In 1928, his son Leonard became associated with him. Former owners had been Mr. Zoellner, James Scott, Dr. Michael Steele and John Braun.
The store continues in the same location, Hope St. W. where the block was erected in 1875. Several additions have been made on the east side, now housing the temporary quarters of the South Easthope Farmer's Mutual Fire Insurance Company, previously the Town and Country Beauty Bar, Wilker's Groceteria and originally the Bank of Montreal. The quarters of Ken Lichti, barber, formerly the Bell Telephone office, the separate building used by Hugh Hotson, shoe merchant, and Mr. Charles Miles, shoe repairman, were added later. For some years Mr. Lemp maintained a drugstore in Plattsville. As an active side-line Mr. Lemp and Len, were the local photographers and we have to thank them for much of the pictorial record of our Village since 1905 . Due to John Lemp's saving habits, many of his original glass negatives are still available. Since Mr. J. Lemp's demise, the firm Lemp's Drug Store is carried on by his son Len, who deals in prescriptions, first aid supplies, books, and other stationery, dishes and cosmetics.
Seltzers
In August, 1938, Wm. F. Seltzer and Carl J. Seltzer, along with two friends from Guelph, Ted Wagner and Karl Kloepfer, formed a partnership to take over the assets of the firm of PEPPLER'S who previously had had a store in the Roth Block, and had sold to Emerson Weitzel. Wm. F. Seltzer had served in the store for some twenty years. Mr. B.C. Ratz, the son-in-law of Mr. George Peppler, retained ownership of the building.
In 1948 the building had to be vacated and the partnership was dissolved but a new one was formed by the two brothers. For a short time the firm was located in the Roth Block (Pletsch) beside the tracks and finally rented the east half of the McKay (Fleischhauer) Block, where ANNE'S Beauty Salon had operated for twelve years, 1939-1951. The block had been acquired by the local Masonic Order. In March 1966 when PIetsch Electric moved to its new location, the firm expanded into the west half of the ground floor, by means of a connecting arch. William Seltzer has served as manager, and was joined by his son Ronald in September 1954, after a short term of service with Eaton's at their Stratford Store.
Tavistock 5¢ to $1.00 Store
This business is conducted in the front of the former Glasgow Warehouse, called at various times the Leinweber and the Jaggard Block. It was started on November 25, 1938, owned and operated by Misses Ida and Minnie Roppel and Mr. Harry Roppel. The store had 260 associate stores in 1948; this number has now grown to nearly 400. At the beginning of 1967 Harry and his wife Marie became the proprietors. The interior has been rearranged and enlarged for quicker service. Employees of the firm have included : Mrs. Frieda Chapman (nee Wilker) and Miss Clara Schneider. Now Mr. & Mrs. Roppel are assisted by: Mrs. Wilfred (Georgina) Hitzeroth and Miss Idella Schwartzentruber, with Mrs. George (Geoline) Merklinger helping when needed.
Neeb's Shoe Store
Clarence Neeb opened his shoe store in the Glasgow Warehouse, in the same spot, facing Woodstock St. S. where the original Krug firm had a similar shop. The pungent aroma of good leather was kept fresh by H.H. Ruppel, who moved here from across the street and whose firm was continued by his former shoe-repairer and assistant, Mr. Henry Koerber. Previous to opening his own store, Clarence had been part of Weitzel's general store from 1927 to 1964. Clarence has been treasurer of the Men's Club and Board of Trade for the last 26 years, and as such has been the chief power behind the success of the annual Sauerkraut Supper, which draws up to 1200 "customers" year after year.
McDermott's Food Market - 17 Woodstock St. S.
In this building at the turn of the century, J.R. Dopp was conducting his confectionery and barber shop. For about a month a Mr. Wigg of Seaforth carried on a confectionery store and lunch counter, before Mr. Robert Walter took over in 1923. Mr. Walter had worked for Mr. Fred Krug in the Glasgow Warehouse. Here he served lunches and sold confectionery, gradually adding a grocery line. In 1941 he was joined by his son-in-law, R.C. McDermott and the firm was named WaIter & McDermott until 1952, when it became McDermott's Food Market, with Scotty and Lucy as the proprietors. With them as clerks have been Mrs. Erma Merklinger and Jim Seyler and more recently Mrs. Edgar Dennis and Miss Margaret Weitzel. Their son Robert helps out as well.
Pfeiffer's Groceteria - 8 Hope St. W.
In 1932 Mr. John Pfeiffer purchased the groceteria owned and operated by Mr. George McKay in the Fleischhauer Block on Hope St. W. across the laneway from Lemp's Drug Store. In 1936 he erected his own one-storey red-brick building east of this location but still on Hope St. W., on what used to be the driveway into the sheds behind the Commercial Hotel. Mr. Pfeiffer has continued his successful business at this stand, with Glenn Wagner as full-time clerk for the last eighteen years.
Wilker's Groceteria - 23 Woodstock St. S.
Harold A. Wilker started his grocery business on Woodstock St. N. in the Adam Diehl or Brenner Block, but moved downtown into the Lemp Block at 14 Hope St. W. In 1963 he purchased what was left of the Ratz or Woelfle Block after the disastrous fire of March 11, 1962, and tore down the second storey and the east half. Now this area provides him with a handy parking lot for his customers. He carries a full line of groceries and is agent for Tip Top Tailors. His brother Otto has been with him for many years; Miss Frieda Neeb joined his staff in 1965.
In 1961 and 1962 Ken Mason had operated a grocery store at this stand, after Mrs. Martin Woelfle, Jr., had disposed of her variety store. After the fire Mr. Mason built the structure now occupied by Ken's Welding Shop on Woodstock St. S.
Yantzi Hardware - 6 Woodstock St. N.
This site could tell most of our Village's history, for on this spot our Founder built his first abode in 1848. Mr. Oliver Yantzi succeeded Mr. William Appel in the hardware store in 1961, the building being the property of Mr. Stefan Schoeck. Mr. Appel had followed Mr. Ray Waddle in 1952. At one time Mr. Henry N. Roth, reeve in 1935 and 1936, to the best of our knowledge had conducted a feed and seed store in this block, for the large scale was still present in the back of Ray Waddle's hardware store. The minutes of the Council meeting on March 6, 1925, record a request by Mr. Waddle for permission to put up a gasoline pump and tank on the west side of Woodstock St. N. just beyond Meisner's Hotel. In this same store Mr. Henry Brenneman, Mr. Yantzi's father-in-law, had conducted a seed and feed store. At the turn of the Century Mr. August Schaefer had preceded him, his brother Adam having been killed at work in the saw mill, now known as Erb's MiJlwork, in 1903.
Mr. Nelson Yantzi, a brother of Oliver, conducts an independent floor-covering service from the same store. The building was purchased by Mr. Elmer PIetsch in 1965 and completely renovated. (see PIetsch Electric)
Klein Bros. Home Hardware
Among the few names of business men who have been on Tavistock's tax list for over 100 years is that of Klein. Over 100 years ago John Klein owned a general store on the corner of Maria and Woodstock Sts., now razed and constituting the parking lot, playfully paged as Pearson's Plaza. A prized souvenir of the present firm is a stone jug, dated 1864, which when filled may have solicited good-will at Christmas time as well as good cheer, according to Mayne, the grandson.
