Burns Service Garage – Comments and Memories

The image in the photo is that of the Service Station and gas pumps where Red Munroe and others worked. The Main Office, Parts Department (Laurie McPhail and others), Service Bays and Paint Shop were located across the road from the Legion. The car lot area had its own service bay located to the rear of the lot which had an upstairs office where all the sales staff were located etc. (Edgar Carroll, Des Smithson, Cameron Smithson, Mike Vaughan and a young Clarke LaRocque). Jack Smithson, my father, was the General Manger and as I recall, Evelyn Lotan provided administrative assistance for the business, Dalton Burns was Finance and Stewart Burns the Owner. I recall that Jack Vanbridger, Elford Giles and Don MacIntosh were the mechanics along. Can anyone else add some other names and details

Dawn Jones

Linda : i believe Burns globe service was owned by Stuart Burns who had a car dealership across the street. I will verify that once i talk to a relative.

Dawn Jones

Linda : i believe Burns globe service was owned by Stuart Burns who had a car dealership across the street. I will verify that once i talk to a relative.

Bev Madden

..and before Burns it was owned by Gord Hill

Ken MacDonald

Dawn Jones

Burns Pontiac Buick

Dennis worked there in the body shop.

Actually that might be his car in the photo

Kathi Norton

Omg – that is terrific to see the old golf gas station of my father’s! Thanks for sharing! If anyone has any memorabilia of “Burns Pontiac Buick” I would be happy to pay someone for such items as key chains, callenders etc… please contact me directly!

Kathi Norton

Yes Burns Pontiac Buick was across the street, where Napa is today! It was in operation in the 60’s and 70’s

Stuart McIntosh

A 1958 Pontiac Pathfinder baby blue was the car my parents purchased at Hill motors.. used it to get my drivers licence – a little while ago – haha

Susan Elliott Topping

I remember Art working there! When I walked by to go skating, he would yell, “Hi Suzie Wing Wong”! because of my ponytail! LOL

Ronald Ford

I worked at Burns service station with Gordon mcclymont in the sixties

Cathy Paterson

I remember your Dad having the car dealership in Almonte I believe Mr Clarke LaRocque worked there as a salesman for your dad

Mike Gallant

Worked at the Service station for 3 years while going to school—then to the main dealership Burn’s Pontiac across the road to begin my career!!!

Tom Edwards

Was Edgar Carroll at Burns Pontiac Mike Gallant.

Mike Gallant

Yes Tom, Edgar Carroll, Clark Laroque, Des Smithson, Cameron Smithson, Laurie McPhail, Teddy Metcalfe, Hughie Whitten, Mrs Lotan, Mrs Wrigglesworth, Fuzzy Barr, Ray Gallant, Billy Southwell Eddie Gosset and the list goes on!!! Fun time working between the hotel and the Legion haha!!!

Peter Low

Continuing on, Mike: Body Shop>> Ronny Arthur, Frank “Shorty” Morrow, Ray Pretty, Steve Mundt, Ken Brown, Paul Raymond. Front End Alignment>> Don McIntosh. Additional mechanics>> Clarence Hazelwood, Ken Bennett. New Car Prep>> Jack VanBridger. Parts>> Jack Greer. New Car Wash>>Grant McDougall and Mike Villeneuve.

Mike Gallant

Peter Low Yes—Ernie Lalonde, Art Landry, Pat Laforce, Ken Mason, Nick Carter——I am sure I will think of a few more

John Metcalfe

Mike Gallant my brother George Metcalfe body shop

Dawn Jones

Mike Gallant ; Dennis LeClaire worked there for a time in the body shop.

Don Raycroft

Wow you have a good memory. Great crew of good people. I think Jack Smithson showed his face now and again as well!

Mike Gallant

Yes Don—Jack was there often as he owned Almonte Leasing. he stored some tires in the basement at the Gulf station across the street. He leased the 5 ton Flour mill trucks and we would service them on Saturdays!!

D Christopher Vaughan

My Dad Des Vaughan worked for Jack Smithson in the early 1950’s,but I thought it was across the street from the Legion – can anyone help out with that? Before my time, as it was when he worked for Jack that he met a Bell Telephone operator who worked on Mill Street named Elizabeth, and well, the rest is history. OK, i checked with my mom, and she has corrected me. My dad worked for Gord Hill at Hill Motors

Ronald Ford

Hill motor was across from superior restaurant. Burns Pontiac Buick was across from the legion

John Metcalfe

The car lot was across the street from legion and the picture is of their gas bar and 2 bay garage beside Lindsay farm equipment

Stuart McIntosh

Looks like a new /65 Pontiac parked out front.

Gerry Newton

Worked there in 1971 for a few weeks before crossing the road in parts.

Sandy France

Gordie Hill owned the GM dealership until the mid sixties when Stewart Burns bought Gordie out. Britt Thurston was the next owner but he moved the business up near Scoops

Julie Taylor

The building on the left that my Dad Don Lockhart grew up in still has my great Grandfather’s safe in it. Unfortunately I don’t think we will ever get it back as my Dad says it would need to be lifted out with a crane.

Janet Drynan

Remember the service station well. We owned it and the Lotan house and ran our auto repair business out of it

George Metcalfe

I worked at this Gulf station and then in the body shop across the street both owend by Stewart Burns

Bob Smithson

J.C. started-up a Car Leasing Company as part of Burns Motors, and eventually went on his own working from his basement office. He eventually became the County Registrar in the Land Registry Office until he retired.

Carl Roberts

Worked in the Body Shop with Shorty Morrow

Don Duncan Hi Nancy do you also have memories of riding to Almonte High School cramed into the back seat of Keith Brydges old rusted out station wagon. School buses have come a long way!