Needham’s Shoe Store in Almonte- Memories

Scott Newton Photo

In 1867 there were but five buildings in the block (Baker’s Jewellery Store to the Bank of Montreal). Three of these are still there – Albert Gale’s office building, the Royal Bank Building) called the Roe Building) and Philip Needham’s Store building, called the “Bruce Block.” Oscar Henderson had been advertising in the “Advance prior to 1867, as a book store proprietor in Perth, but in the Spring of 1867 he moved to Almonte and ran the same business in a frame building on the present location of the “Superior” – he also operated a telegraph office there. Long “The Tailor” who had been in the “African Warehouse” across the street now in the small building between the Royal Bank and the Needham building. Mr. Long deserves a story by himself – he had many locations, and his advertisements in the local papers showed that he was always returning from New York where he polished up on the latest styles. All his suits were sewn by hand, and he promised that no “sewing machine”, would ever be used on his customer’s clothes.

On the other corner of Mill and Brae was the Bank of Montreal, and George Eades Boot and Shoe Store. Needham and Son, bought out Geo. Eades later on and became a fixture in the community. Here are some comments of the folks that remember Needham’s Shoe store in Almonte…

Jayne Munro-Ouimet Linda, if I recall correctly it was located where Cortelli’s Pizza is 🙂Jayne

D Christopher Vaughan I can’t remember the exact location, but it was on the main street near Dougie James’ store I think. I remember getting our new shoes for school there. We were seven kids, and Mr. Needham would run an account so we could wear our new shoes – would stop by on our way home from school to make payments against our account. Small towns.

Susan Elliott Topping Us too and we were marched in again in the Fall for boots!

D Christopher Vaughan— Seems everyone had an account there – see following posts from Joe Ryan and Cathy Paterson. We got those big rubber Gollashes with the buckles that pulled right over your shoes in the winter. Does anyone remember picking up their repaired shoes or sharpened skates? They would be on the floor with all the other repairs, and Mr. Needham would tell you to “go in the back and find your shoes” (skates)

Author’s note-

Galoshes, also known as dickersons, gumshoes, rubbers, or overshoes, are a type of rubber boot that is slipped over shoes to keep them from getting muddy or wet.a rubberized boot. In the United Kingdom, however, a galosh is an overshoe made of a weatherproof material to protect a more vulnerable shoe underneath and keep the foot warm and dry.

Linda Nilson-Rogers Yes and Phil Needham did repairs in harness for me too! The shop was a marvel, original wood floors and shoe boxes from counter top to ceiling!

Kim Davis We had 2 full shoe stores-one was on the corner opposite the BMO–The name escapes me…2 shoe stores, 2 hardware stores, women’s clothing, men’s clothing, Stedmans drug store and grocery store …all downtown. Throw in a couple of variety stores too! Mortons and Dougie James. Happening spot!

Joanna Meehan-Harrington the other one was Procter’s.

Dawn Jones Did Dinty Scott not have a shoe store in town?

Cathy Paterson We bought all our families footwear from Mr Needham ! We ran an account their too!

Joe Ryan Aww yes Philip Needham’s ..i remember we had an account there too and once in a while my mom would give me a dollar or two to put down on the account. Philip had a very rudimentary set of books …mostly just scribbled notes. Never could figure out how he kept track of it all!!!! Quality footwear back then!!!

Sandy France Harold Procter shoes was opposite the BMO

Ronald Ford Phil all so sharpened skates and did them right.5 cents for skate sharpening

Peggy Byrne I can still picture him in his apron coming out from his workshop back of the cash

Sandy France Phil liked to pretend he was a curmudgeon…or maybe he wasn’t pretending 🙂

November 1977

One of Almonte’s long-time businessmen, Mr. Phillip Needham passed away in hospital here on Tuesday, November 8, 1977. Although not in the best of health for the past few months, his last illness was short. He was removed to hospital just a few hours before his passing. M r. Needham was born in Barwell, Leicestershire, England a son of the late George Needham and his wife, Beatrice Quartermain.

The family came to Canada in 1919, settling in Toronto. They came to Almonte in 1924. He and his father were in the shoe store and shoe repair business in Almonte for a total of 53 years. They were first in the Isobel McLean building on Brae Street, then in a location on Bridge Street, and for 45 years in the store on Mill Street, which they acquired when the late Geo. W. Eades removed to Carleton Place. His father died in 1946. Mr. Needham was a member of St. Paul’s Anglican Church, where he sang in the choir for 27 years. He is survived by his wife, the former Edith Warren; two daughters, Nancy (Mrs. Des Smithson) o f Almonte and Margaret (Mrs. Robert Grant) of Arnprior, and one granddaughter Diane Grant. The funeral service was held at the Kerry Funeral Home on Thursday at 2 p.m. conducted by Rev. Harry H. Brown, rector of St. Paul’s. Cremation was at Pinecrest Crematorium, Ottawa

Stories–

The story goes that Mrs. Bickley, upon arriving in Town as the wife of the new Anglican minister, had taken a pair of her shoes to Mr. Philip Needham (cobbler) on Mill Street to have them repaired. After depositing the shoes on Mr. Needham’s counter and being about to exit the store, she turned and said to Mr. Needham that he hadn’t given her a receipt for her shoes. To this Mr. Needham replied, “Who’d want them but you!” Mr. Needham owned the building (now owned by C. R. Gamble Holdings Inc.) which housed his store (street level) and Mr. Jamieson’s law office (second floor).

Read 40 years later click–https://millstonenews.com/40-years-later/

Also check out The Tales of Carleton Place and The Tales of Almonte