Long Bay

Established:  November 11, 1884        Closed:  May 13, 1948

In the early 1920’s Herb Dougherty built the Long Bay Store.

In 1935 D.A. Patterson bought the store from Herb Dougherty.

In 1941 D.A. Patterson and Allen Brandow traded stores.

In 1942 Joseph Williton bought the store and also became Postmaster. Prior to buying the store Joseph Williton farmed in the area for almost forty years, he kept the six hundred acre farm and ranch after retiring from farming to pursue being an entrepreneur.

Mail came to the store only 3 days per week – Monday, Wednesday and Friday - and distributed the mail to Britianville and occasionally Perivale.

The Long Bay Store burnt down at approximately 10 o'clock pm on Sunday, May 12, 1948.

The intense fire took the lives of Joseph & Edith Rebecca Williton. At the time of their death Joseph was 76 and Edith was 68. Police were noted that the fire was so intense, milk bottles had melted. The couples bodies were released for burial on Tuesday and the funeral took place on Wednesday. The funeral was held at the Long Bay Church and interment at the Long Bay Cemetery. The couple was survived by five daughters. The tragedy was further investigated by Inspector Neil of the Toronto Attorney General Criminal Investigation Bureau and two pathologists from Sudbury; all whom arrived on Tuesday. E.L. Claridge, Crown Attorney, ordered and inquest into the couples death. The inquest was held on Thursday, May 13 at 7 o'clock in Gore Bay.

The mail from 1948 on has been distributed out of the Spring Bay Post Office.

* In compliance with the Privacy Act (1983), certain personal information has been deleted.

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