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~ "0 . "V 9J ; * The original Holden's and later, Geen's Drug Store was located on the corner of Front Street and Victoria Avenue. The drug store, which was wholesale-retail at the time, also dealt largely in coal oil and lamp goods. Later, magazines and stationery began to be sold in the store. Included on the shelves were bibles and hymnbooks, a strong reflection of the religious ardour of Albert Geen, who was ness that Casselman noted was the gradual change Lyle Twiddy, former employee of the Geen's who had also an active preacher ordained in 1885. passed away over a decade ago. A fire in the 1880s forced Geen to move his business from veterinarian to urban medicine since the 70s. "The Geens used to have a large clientele from the "He (Twiddy) showed them how a pharmacist can be across the street to 280 Front St. It remained there until in 1945, his son, Percival Geen, moved the business to surrounding farming areas. They used to have bag balm a professional and at the same time, be someone who that was used to treat certain cow udder infection and people seek out and go to. They trusted the way that he the three-storied building on 276 Front St. "The retail area was on the main floor and the base- a large variety of antibiotics for injections for farm ani- dispensed their medication accurately and brought ment was used for storage. The two top floors were at mals. As Belleville started to grow, that business fell by them joy even at the time when they were not feeling the wayside," he says. joyful." ' one time rented out to tenants. Recently, the Geens announced that they are closing The only emergency Casselman said that he could Gradually, around the 70s, the tenants were moved out and the family set up the offices for all three stores recall was the time Belleville and area suffered from a down their downtown location and like many others, on the second floor while the top floor was used as extra large infestation of lice a number of years ago. He says Casselman says he felt sad on hearing the news of the the store could not keep up with the demand for lice closure. storage space." The Geens expanded to their second location when products. Area customers have been known to remain with they bought Jim Barton's drug store on North Front the family-operated business for generations .and ' You can reach Benzie Sangma at bsangma@cogeStreet kirl977. Finally, in Jj9j8>7/ the business toraoriGkBd withimimnpnts (ntjor^xay (jdeasfon out to their Loyalist Plaza location. ' r,mjn i * n o * T^ One of the most significant shifts in the Geen's busi- atmosphere. In particular, he says, they were fond of When