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first it was a partnership composed of Frank Mossey, father of the present owners and his brother—in—law, Freeman Muttart, both till then dory fishermen. As the partners had no cash capital originally the store was supplied with merchandise by a merchant at Red Point, the late John E. Robertson. He was paid for the goods as sales were made and accounts collected less a commission

of 10%. This was the total remuneration, less expenses to the partners. Mr. Muttart was also a farmer-fisherman and so took a limited active part in the business. Some years later his only

son, "Ed”, worked in the store with a View to becoming a partner in place of his father. Were it not that Ed was killed in 1916 in France during the World War I, it is reasonable to assume that this business might be operating under its first name — Mossey and Muttart.

The first store building was a most modest one—storey structure about the size of a one car garage. It was hauled from the shore where it had been a fish house.

Probably about l905—O6 a larger store was acquired when the Kingsboro Church was replaced with a new building. The old one was sold to Mossey and Muttart and they made half of it into the new store. Most of this is still incorporated in the present store building, although only partially recognizable because of several subsequent alterations. It is recalled that perhaps 50 years ago, the upper storey still contained on its walls white plaster appropriately scrolled for a church, which withstood the moving of the building from Kingsboro and subsequent renovations.

The part of the old church building not used as the store became a barn on the farm of Freeman Muttart but it is no longer standing.

In the years of l9lS~20 the store facilities were enlarged again by the acquisition of a store building that up until then had been operated at the corner of the Munn's Road—Bothwell Highway by William Stewart, father of the late Wellington Stewart. When the present new main store was built in 1945—46 the late

Alden MacDonald bought the above mentioned and moved it for his use as a workshop.

In the earlier years of this century many general and/or grocery stores operated east of Souris, some less than a mile from one another. Many of these stores not only carried on busi— ness at their location but also by way of a "peddling wagon" - virtually a general store on wheels which circulated throughout the communities from which patronage was much sought and appreci- ated by the people and their children especially before the days of better roads and automotive travel. Some merchants doubtless could attribute their progress to the fact that this service won many loyal patrons and established long—lasting friendships.

The peddling wagon route covered by J. F. Mossey and Sons