4 Friday, September 15, 2023 brooklintowncrier.com One of Brooklin's more successful businessmen was also a top notch butcher. Arthur James Cook, A.J. to family and friends, provided quality cuts of meat beginning at the age of 15 when he established his first butcher shop in Columbus, Ontario, and mastered the profession. He and his wife Louella, whom he married in 1917, settled in Brooklin where he wasted no time in establishing himself as an entrepreneur, starting with the purchase of a butcher shop from W.J.Haycraft at 46 Baldwin Street. Knowing customers While Louella managed the retail aspect of the shop, A.J. was occupied at his abattoir located in the St. Thomas and Anderson Streets area. His dedication to his craft went beyond meat preparation. He knew his customers by name, including their preferences and dislikes. His daily routine consisted of many hours driving across the district in his delivery truck, committed to offering the best service. While running the butcher shop, he expanded his business portfolio by purchasing a bakery at 61 Baldwin Street where Louella played a significant role as manager until it was sold to Herm Harris in 1953. Meanwhile, A.J. ventured into a new endeavour by purchasing an established general store housed within the former Balfour building at 58 Baldwin Street. There he sold a wide array of items including clothing, hardware, dry goods, and groceries, further solidifying his reputation as a prominent local merchant. In 1944, A.J. decided to sell the butcher shop to Wes Piatti who opened a groceteria in its place. After retiring from his business pursuits, A.J. purchased the property at 11 Princess Street from developer W. Radcliff. He oversaw the construction of a stately house he had built for his wife and two children, Gordon and Mary Noreen. Today, this rare example of a modified WWII bungalow-style home is a designated heritage site safeguarded under the Ontario Heritage Act. It was the first house built in Brooklin to feature a basement recreation room. Community involvement A.J. Cook was more than a successful businessman and his legacy extends beyond the walls of the beautiful 11 Princess Street structure. Deeply engaged in the community, he generously donated meat to families in need during WWII, particularly to those whose loved ones were in service overseas. For over 20 years he served as an Associate Director on the Brooklin Spring Fair Board. He played soccer with the Brooklin Soccer Club, served on the Whitby Township Council and was a member of the Masons, taking his role as Past Master District Deputy Grand Master seriously, where he was authorized to preside in every lodge of his district. A.J. died of leukemia at the age of 62 in 1957 while Louella died on July 4, 1983. The couple are buried at Groveside Municipal Cemetery. A.J. and The House on Princess Street By Jennifer Hudgins