HOME HARDWARE

In August 1983, O’Leary Home Hardware first opened its doors for business. The place of business is located in the O’Leary Public Hall Co. building located on Main Street. Partners in this business were and still are Arthur and Frances Lewis, and Wayne and Norma MacNeill.

In 1988, the store size was doubled adding greatly to the shop- ping convenience for O’Leary and area residents.

With the closing of Wayne’s T.V. in the autumn of 1992, the Radio Shack business was moved to the O’Leary Home Hardware store.

The store presently employs six employees; namely Bruce Smallman, Wayne MacNeill, Darlene McCormick, Eddie Gallant, Allan Crozier, and Colleen Stewart. Management prides itself in hav-

ing a friendly, knowledgeable staff, well versed in the hardware busi- ness.

KENNEDY’S STORE

Marne Kennedy, son of William and Florence (Pate) Kennedy, was born on May 27, 1915. His father, a general merchant in O’Leary, died when Marne was two and a half years old. Marne and his moth~ er then moved into the home of his grandfather, RN. Pate. Mrs. Kennedy operated an ice cream parlour in the space formerly her father’s courtroom. After RN. Pate died, Florence carried on the busi- ness until ill health forced her to pass the management of the store to Marne, who was then twenty-eight. Marne ran the business alone until 1964 when he formed a company with Western Hardware. He continued as manager until he sold the store to Stanley MacDonald in 1968.

In 1937, Mame bought a store from the estate of Alfred Adams (presently Quik Mart). He operated a grocery store in this building from 1937 to 1974 and then sold to John Wedlock.

In 1990, Wedlock’s store was sold to Donald and Beverley Murphy and renamed Murphy’s Quik Mart.

Marne and his wife, Helen (nee Jelley), presently live in Woodstock, P.E.l.

MACHINERY SALES SI SERVICE

There have been many farm machinery sales and service outlets in O'Leary. A number of department stores sold and/or took in trade machinery, others were connected to a garage or independent dealers

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