76 Commercial

Funerals of that day were still an occasion for the help of friends without professional training. Jack Keays was the unofficial undertaker for Souris before William Dingwell opened the first funeral parlor between Hazelden’s Store and the railway track. Death had its dignity for all. Funeral proces- sions in Souris would sometimes see as many as 140 men marching behind a heavily tasseled hearse drawn by black horses, to the slow dirges played by the Town band.

L. Eustace Shaw kept a jewel- lery shop in the house now located adjacent to the Chaisson Restaur- ant. It was built in 1864 by design

Thefuneral

procession for Chester McBride Chester, a twenty-one year old student at St. Dun- stan’s University, died April 1,

1908. A special train from Charlotte- . town brought the University Band and 4,0 some of his classmates to Souris for the ser- ”fin-'9 vice in St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church. "hires

made by William Richard (Billy Dick) Dingwell to fit its former location on the corner, across the street Frank Heartz said when he was in Souris (1888- 1892) Charles Jury had “a

watch making place near Syl Campbell’s”

Photo by Morley S Acorn, Courtesy Pictures of the Past by beards.

Corner of Church Avenue and Main Street

On the right, the Eustace Shaw Jewellery Store, later the home and office of Dr. A.A. MacDonald. It was moved across Church Avenue to make room for a Service Station and is now the home of Mrs, Frank Keays. In the centre is St. Alban’s Church. On the left, the home of Captain Dominic MacDonald (1842-1918), later owned by Ernest Dingwell. Mid 19603 it was moved a block east and made into apartments. The Dingwell Funeral Home is now on this site.

Note the gas lantern on the corner and the wooden sidewalks.