The Oakville Post Office was the scene of my employment before I joined the RCAF in Oct. 1947. The Postmaster was Bill Litchfield who had served overseas in the Postal Corp. His Assistant was another veteran named Fred. Completing the staff was Mrs. Flodel Hughes, (no relation) Joan Fitzsimmons, Jean Duncan, and Elmer Gittings (he’s shown elsewhere on this page); the man who took the mail bags to the station in his Model “A” Ford was John Brown. He also handled one of the two Rural Routes.

The Post Office was a choice place for students to work during Christmas break; and their help was needed. With unsealed Christmas Cards costing only 1 cent to mail, the volume of mail was tremendous. (Seal it and it would cost you 3 cents).

Next to the Post Office was Art Heaven’s Radio Repair store. Most people knew that Art owned that lovely boat in the harbour “Happy Days”. Art employed a re-located Japanese-Canadian during the war named Mark whose younger brother was enrolled at Oakville High. Others in his family worked at the Sheridan Nurseries. On a Saturday morning we would wander down the alley beside the store to watch Mark work on a radio. We would ply him with numerous questions which he answered willingly. A real learning experience. Next to that was Thornton's Bakery. Who could walk past such an establishment without pausing to breathe in the unforgettable aromas? While Mrs. Thornton took care of the customers up front, her husband Ben was busy in back. I sometimes delivered milk as a boy to the back of the store and saw Ben perform his magic with the dough.

The picture to the left picture (c. 1946), was taken on the North side of Colborne St (Lakeshore) between George and Dunn Sts. (outside Grinham's Book Store). Elmer Gittings is talking to a couple of High School students (that's Jeannette Russell with a load of homework). The Post Office and Dominion Hardware are in the far background.

Note only one car in the block!

Bob Hughes