A century in Clanwilliam
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
We need your support!
Local journalism needs your support!
As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed.
Now, more than ever, we need your support.
Starting at $15.99 plus taxes every four weeks you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website.
Subscribe Nowor call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527.
Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community!
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Brandon Sun access to your Free Press subscription for only an additional
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
*Your next subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $20.00 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.00 plus GST every four weeks.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 12/02/2022 (1499 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
CLANWILLIAM, Man. — On Dec. 10, 2021, the Clanwilliam General Store celebrated the 100th anniversary of the building in the small community north of Minnedosa along Provincial Road 262. Store owner Maxine Mutter held a pancake breakfast, serving more than 60 meals throughout the morning in honour of the building’s legacy in the community.
Mutter, born and raised in Brandon, purchased the Clanwilliam store just under seven years ago and moved to the community a year and a half later after growing tired of commuting. She technically runs the store Monday to Friday from 7:45 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. but she tells most people: “If my car’s here, I’m here.”
In addition to operating as a general store and post office for the area, it also serves as a local meeting place. The morning coffee crowd comes in around opening and Mutter serves lunch every day. The menu is whatever she’s making that day, but it’s always good. On Wednesday, the lunch menu was chicken à la king, freshly baked biscuits and rhubarb cake.
The Clanwilliam store first opened as the R.A. McQuarrie store on Feb. 19, 1903. A fire on Sept. 21, 1921, destroyed the building but in a mere three months, it had been rebuilt, and reopened on Dec. 10, 1921. It still serves the community today. A wood-fire stove crackles in the winter and the original hardwood floor bears the marks of the store’s history. Mutter has historical photos and flyers from the store on display.
The shop has a small one-chair salon/barbershop in the back where every Wednesday Lorette Sillen gives haircuts. Sillen had her own salons in Erickson, and worked in Brandon before retiring. She lives seven miles north of Clanwilliam. Cutting hair once a week keeps her busy and allows her to visit with Mutter and the store’s coffee crowd. “It’s a profession I’ve never gotten tired of,” Sillen said.
Mutter hopes to celebrate the store’s centennial more this summer, and dreams of having a parade down the main drag in Clanwilliam.
» The Brandon Sun
