Willaston Greengrocers
| Place type: | Locality |
|---|---|
| Town or Locality: | Willaston |
The stories mentioned here are based upon recounts and memories of past Willaston residents.
A.M. Ward Greengrocer
Mr. Ward’s first shop, in 1903, was the last in a row of four by the Willaston Hotel. Before that he had a delivery round. He later moved next door to the post office and general store. In 1908 he moved across the road to what was a butcher/baker business. He remained in business there until he retired in 1941. In July 1938 a theft occurred in Mr. Ward’s premises. The Bunyip talks about the mysterious theft at Willaston-
“The Gawler police are engaged trying to unravel a mysterious theft which took place at the home of Mr. A.M. Ward, greengrocer, of Willaston, on Monday morning, when £60, jewellery and tobacco were carried away. Mr. Ward when he rang up the police on Monday said that the entrance must have been made between 5a.m. and 8a.m. when the loss was discovered. He had risen, as usual, about 4 a.m. to go to the Adelaide market and about 5 a.m. had left, leaving the back door of the dwelling open. There were no signs of a forced entry to the premises, pointing to the fact that the thief must have got in after Mr. Ward had gone off leaving the entrance free. The office inside the shop was entered, and from the cash box were taken £20 in silver and £40 in notes and also two cheques for £4 and £1-10 shillings”
Later, his son Len took over the business and ran it for a number of years. The shop then became a delicatessen. At another time with the sale of the business, new owners found one and a half cases of gelignite at the back of the store!
Gerald Carmody in “Willaston Revisited” mentions Ward’s greengrocer shop. -“Old Mrs. Ward, surely one of the kindest and most compassionate women that ever walked this planet. To this day, I can still see her smile as she passed me an extra lollie (or two) when I had completed my shopping.”
Related Articles
External Links
- [[1]]
References
Memories of Willaston Greengrocers
Do you remember Willaston Greengrocers ? Then Join up and add your memory here.