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14 - PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, April 26,1994 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" J. Peter Hvidsten Port Perry Star The Dowson family is cele- brating an anniversary this week at its Port Perry Plaza store. Dowson's Valu-Mart (formerly known as Red and White) cele- brates 45 years of service to the community and are marking the occasion by inviting friends and customers to drop by and say hello. For the past 18 years, the family-owned store has operat- ed successfully from the Port Perry Plaza, but it all began back on Queen St. in 1949 when Merlin Dowson opened his store on the south side of Queen St. A lot has changed in the last 45 years. In the beginning the store didn't carry meat, a lot of the groceries were sold in bulk and the store took phone orders and made home deliveries. Customers were even allowed to pay for their groceries once a month. The old Queen St. store (most recently occupied by Creative Basket) had about 1,200 sq. ft. of retail space. Prior to buying the store, Mr. Dowson began working in the grocery business in 1927 as an employee in the grocery depar- tment at Brock's Store, which was located just down the street. He worked there until 1939 before a stint in the army, and then returned and started into business on his own. In 1949 there were seven grocery stores and two butcher shops in town, serving a popula- tion of about 1,200 people. When Mr. Dowson first start- ed into business for himself, his wife Dora worked alongside him in the store, but later gave that up to spend time raising their three children, Ken, Shirley and Nancy. Mr. Dowson, semi-retired in Don Gibson and daughters Shirley and Nancy. (See story) 5° poarq , % ; Cualiy Education Today Junior « Kindergarten Towouou Pre-Registration >* -- Information IL-4 Sad n Beginning in January 1995, the Durham Board of Education will offer a Junior Kindergarten program in the following selected schools only: H.W. Knight P.S., Cannington, Cedardale P.S., Oshawa, Coronation P.S., Oshawa, South Simcoe P.S., Oshawa, Sunset Heights P.S., Oshawa, K. Rowe Memorial P.S., Whitby, R.A. Sennett P.S., Whitby, Lord Durham P.S., Ajax, Roland Michener P.S., Ajax, Rosebank P.S., Pickering, Woodlands Centennial P.S., Pickering, 432-2601 723-3621 725-2032 725-2732 723-9223 668-5121 668-3221 683-6240 686-5438 509-2274 839-5800 Children eligible for this program must be 4 years of age by December 31, 1994 and must reside within the school boundary area. Pre- registration for the Junior Kindergarten program, on a first-come first-served basis, will take place by phone on Tuesday, May 3, 1994 beginning at 9:30 a.m. No pre-registration will take place before this date. Child Care students could pre register in the school serving the immediate area but would not be given final permission to attend until the first day of classes. Information flyers with more detail about the Durham Board's plan to phase in Junior Kindergarten are available from your local public elementary or secondary school J. PETER HVIDSTEN / PORT PERRY STAR The above photo was taken 10-years ago during the 35th Anniversary celebrations being held at Dowson's Red and White. The business was started in 1949 by Merlin Dowson, left, seen with his wife Dora and their son Ken, son-in-law Dowson's mark 45th ye Qe owsoNs ar in business J. PETER Family members at Dowson's Valu-Mart are celebrating 45 years of business at their Port Perry Plaza store this week. The grocery store has seen many changes over the past four and a half decades, but it continues to be a store operated by family members. Above, front left, Maureen Dowson, Dora Dowson, Nancy Obee and Shirley Gibson. At back, Ken Dowson, Dave Obee and Don Gibson. about 1982 and turned over the day-to-day operation of the business to his son Ken and son-in-law Don Gibson. Although Ken went to work for a couple years at Dunlop aft- er leaving high school, he returned to Port Perry to help run the family business. During an interview with the Dowson's for their 35th anniversary, Mrs. Dowson said Ken had been stocking shelves in the old store from almost the time he was old enough to walk. In 1961, Dowson's Grocery Store took on the Red and White affiliation, and about 10 years later a major decision was made to move off Queen Street into a new plaza on Highway 7A. "We really didn't like moving off Queen St., but with no place to expand we had no choice," Ken said. When they first moved into the Port Perry Plaza the store was about 9,000 sq. ft., and only a few years later it was expand- ed by an additional 4,000 sq. ft. In 1987 the store was re- named Dowson's Valu-Mart and a bakery added to the premises. While the grocery business has changed drastically in the past 10 years, Dowson's has managed to keep up with the changes in demands of the public. Fast foods, pre-cooked grocer- ies, deli-style take-out counter and a bakery and the introduc- tion of President's Choice brands are just some of the changes made in the past few years to meet the changing shopping habits of the public. Just recently, Dowson's decid- ed to open the store on Sunday due to pressure from the public to supply this service. Through all the changes over the past 45 years, Ken Dowson attributes the success of their store to the loyal customers and r Durharr LOOSE RUGS BROADLOOM Stearn Cleaning L 3M Scotchguard UPHOLSTERY We provide our patients: State-of-the-Art Care Comfortable atmosphere Relaxation techniques 44 Nitrous Oxide (gas) Cosmetic Bonding Emergencies welcomed ® Insurance assignment (we collect from insurance companies) DR. A. CHIA DR. J. COTTRELL DR. M. GARFAT Gentle Dental Care for the whole family New patients always welcome! DR. J. HARDY DR. T. KING (Orthodontist) I PORT PERRY DENTAL CENTRE 238 QUEEN ST. - PORT PERRY 985-8451 ss oo A oe : employees, citing Richard Kent and John Kent who have been with Dowson's for approximate- ly 25 years. Members of the family curren- tly working for the company include Ken Dowson, Shirley and Don Gibson, Nancy and Dave Obee. In addition to family mem- bers, the business employs approximately 30 people, some who have been with the compa- ny for many years. Local brew store still in business A local brew-your-own store owner is concerned about a report in an Oshawa paper last week which said a couple of Port Perry brew businesses were shut down. Klaus Thaeter said that his store "Lakeview Beer Brew" is one of only two outlets in Scugog, and their business is still in operation. An article carried in a recent Oshawa Times quotes the own- er of an Oshawa brew-your-own business as saying "the tax shut down businesses, including a couple of Port Perry stores." Mr. Thaeter, who operates his business at 159 Casimir St. said, "if anything they are get- ting busier." Finance Minister Floyd Laughren announced last week a rollback on the tax of brew- your-own products. The tax was cut from 26 cents to 13 cents a litre because the Finance Minister said there was a disproportionate impact of the tax on the industry. 10% OFF Wedding Orders Port Perry Star OFFICE CENTRE 188 Mary St., Port Perry 985-7383 » Tr -- ---- JI EE