SENIORS
MOMENTS
– By Don Crossley
O ur 62nd wedding anniversary is fast approaching, and as
we prepared dinner in our kitchen recently, we recalled these
years, which really have passed in a flash.
Joan remembered where we had bought many of the items
we still use to this day. This of course, ties in with our last
column, about shopping in downtown Hamilton, where
Joan and I first met, as employees of the old Imperial Bank
of Canada on James St. South.
Because we worked in the downtown Hamilton area, we were
close to the shops where we found many of our household
items. It was very convenient, during our lunch hours, to
visit any of the uptown department stores.
SHARE YOUR MEMORIES!
If you have memories you would like to share with
the public through this column, please contact
Don by email: [email protected]
or you may send your photos and letters
through Silver & Gold Magazine.
Please see page 5 for mailing address.
For my 20th Birthday, Joan surprised me with a beautiful
state-of-the-art wrist watch, which would automatically self-
wind, from Birks located at the corner of King and James
street. I am pleased to report that I still wear this watch for
special occasions, and it keeps time perfectly.
Eaton’s also had a very large store on James St. North. We
still recall their beautifully decorated store windows each
Christmas. We continued to shop there for many years after
we were married until the one here at the Burlington Mall
opened.
For example, pots and pans from Robinsons, stainless steel
cutlery from the Right House, dinnerware, both casual and
more formal items, from Birks, located only two doors away
from the bank. Joan’s engagement ring was from an uptown
jewellery shop, the fabric for Joan’s trousseau from Finch’s
who still used the pneumatic tubes, to take cash away and
return your change.
Robinson’s 1959
Hamilton Public Library Archives.
Eaton’s Centre
Christmas Window Display, 1958
During the early years of our marriage, I was employed as
a travelling Internal Auditor, which required me to be on
the road almost five days a week. This meant that Joan had
to run the home herself, and because she did not drive, she
relied heavily on being able to phone in orders to the stores
just mentioned and have things delivered right to our door.
This was especially true around Christmas when she would
purchase gifts by phone, having seen the item in one of the
ads in the Hamilton Spectator. To say that my gifts from
her on Christmas morning were a complete surprise, is an
understatement.•
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