New parking lot saves old store

July 25, 2013 · 0 Comments

Dufferin County’s recent decision to enforce parking regulations, especially on Airport Road near Mulmur’s 5 Sideroad, has resulted in an illustration that the pioneering spirit of co-operation and good neighbourliness is alive and well in the township.

The parking enforcement could have presented serious problems for the 1860s-era Olde Stanton Store as owners Marie and Len Swiderski didn’t have space on their property to create a parking lot for customers, and there was virtually no room to park on the roadway.

But “for once there is a happy fairy-tale ending to what seemed to be a problem at The Olde Stanton Store!! In this case we had a few unhappy neighbours and then – the country neighbours to the north came to the rescue!

“When Ben and Marianne McIntosh/Kazimier heard about the ‘problems’ at the century store (built in the 1860’s) and that it was being pushed to close its doors- they came to the rescue. ‘Take a piece of our land to the north – no charge- and put in a parking lot.’

“It was hard to accept such a gift, but thankfully, a parking lot that can hold at least twelve cars has been created. For us, it was a miracle – something so generous and kind that it was very hard to accept. We really do have great country neighbours in Mulmur and many more that have supported our store over the years,” Marie said in an e-mailed account of what happened.

The historic store is almost all that is left of what used to be the thriving community of Stanton, except for the pre-confederation hotel that is soon to be moved to the museum grounds.

By Wes Keller