Mitchell & Cram — History of The Summit Store 1898-1902 –Carleton Place Then and Now–Bridge Street Series –Volume 15

January 1900 Carleton Place Herald–
Found by Josh Greer- and property of Lisa Occomore and Brad Occomore of Valley Granite and Tile

When I saw this ad in the 1900 Carleton Place ad I finally found out where Mitchell & Cram was and all the clippings I had saved made sense. Mitchell & Cram were occupying the Summit Store and by the looks of it not doing too well after doubling the Summit store when they opened in 1898. Thomas Mitchell was only 24 in 1898.

In 1900 J. W. Cram had probably had enough financially and made an announcement that he was retiring. J. W. ended up moving west and briefly came back to Carleton Place for a visit in 1920. By 1902 the bills were probably mounting and Thomas Mitchell disappeared. Mitchell’s wife was Elizabeth Agnes Cram (William and Elizabeth Cram) age 23, and Thomas F Mitchell (Alexander and Margaret Mitchell) age 23 married on Thursday, October 7, 1897 in Carleton Place, Lanark, Ontario.

They were not listed in the 1898 1899 Carleton Place directory.

Photo–Vintage Carleton Place & Beckwith This clipping is from a school scribbler that was kept by Louella Edith Drynan (nee Shail).

History

Alexander Sibbitt operated a grocery store at 238 Bridge Street for nearly fifty years.
Other businesses occupied the building while Sibbitt operated his grocery store
including a blacksmith shop and an accounting firm. Sibbitt’s grocery went by the
name Summit Cash Store. Eventually Sibbitt sold liquor at his store. In 1917, D.A.
Roe took over the store and the name was changed to Roe North End Grocery.
Lorne J. Campbell operated it for a few years and then D.A. Roe became the owner.
Max Movshovitz ran the back part. After Max’s move a dry cleaning store was run
here by William McKimm. Later Gordon Langtry set up his dairy on these premises.
Jack Howard then owned the entire building. The majority of the building was made
into apartments and Beulah Gordon had her hairdressing salon on the corner.

Marj Whyte wrote:

Across High Street was a brick building once known as The Sibbett’s Summit Store (Sibbet’s Grocery & Liquor Store–Lloyd Hughes). Later it was ran by Lorne J. Campbell and then D.A. Roe became the owner and it was also Baird’s Food. The back part was the first shop run by Max Moshovitz. At this time they lived on Flora Street and he went around the country with a horse and wagon selling his wares to rural people. When they moved their store to Bridge Street there was a dry cleaning store run by William McKimm. Later Gordon Langrty set up his first dairy on these premises. The whole building was then owned by Jack Howard who had moved from Forrester Falls. Most of the front building was made into apartments and Beulah Gordon had her hairdressing salon on the corner.

Clipped from The Ottawa Journal, 18 Oct 1898, Tue, Page 2

Clipped from The Ottawa Journal, 05 Dec 1898, Mon, Page 6

Clipped from The Ottawa Journal, 09 Jun 1899, Fri, Page 4

Clipped from The Ottawa Journal, 17 Aug 1899, Thu,

Clipped from The Ottawa Journal, 22 Oct 1900, Mon, Page 3

1920-02-27–Almonte Gazette

Mr. J. W. Cram arrived from Regina on Saturday morning in time for the obsequies. We will miss the kindly smile and friendly greeting and long in vain to hear the ring of jovial laughter and to feel again his genial presence but with the poet can say

Clipped from The Ottawa Journal, 18 Dec 1902, Thu, Pa

Food Costs

The Summit Store is the Spot. Your choice for #1.00: 6 cans Salmon, 6 cans Lobster, 8 boxes Sardines, 11 lbs Prunes, 12 lbs. new Valencia Raisins, 13 lbs. Bright Sugar, 4 lbs. choice Japan Tea. Five dozen Labrador Herring for $1.00, or $3.00 per half barrel. Also Fresh Halibut, Mess Pork, Fresh Herring, Tommy-Cods, etc. Early Rose Potatoes. Green Apples – Glassware and Crockery, Boots and Shoes.

Eli Hutchings. – May 1884.