Wagg/McGillivray Store

 

Malcolm Mac McGillivray was born near Collingwood in 1874. He made his way to Manitoulin Island in the late 1890s. In 1904 Malcolm married Clara Lake Scott. Malcolm and Clara McGillivray farmed in Mills Township for several years.

 In 1920 the opportunity for Malcolm and Clara McGillivray to purchase the Walter I. Wagg Hardware Store arose. At that time the couple moved to Providence Bay.

 
Malcolm and Clara's house is still standing on McNevin Street E.

Malcolm and Clara had three children Minerva, Helen and Mason.

Malcolm served as Reeve in Carnarvon Township for a term in the 1920s. In the late 1920s Malcolm built a boat and named it the Minerva-Helen, after his two daughters. He used the boat mainly for commercial fishing and haulage to bring oil and gas from Tobermory to sell at the McGillivary store.

 
 When business was slow Malcolm painted numerous landscapes, cartoons and portraits. Malcolm drew illustrations for Mr. W.L. Smith, the founder of of the Manitoulin Expositor.

Mr. W.L. Smith wrote a book named the Pioneers of Old Ontario; which contains illustrations by Malcolm.

On July 2, 1936 at the age of 62 Malcolm died suddenly of a heart attack. The McGillvary Store was closed at that time and demolished. Clara McGillivray continued to reside in Providence Bay until the late 1950s, at which time she moved to Port Credit with one of her daughters. Clara died in 1960.
 
Blair & Shirley McDermid had the building built that is now on the property and they operated the Manitoulin Insurance Brokers Company. Manitoulin Insurance Brokers was taken over by Harold "Grant" Oakes, then by Robert Sykes and the last owner of Manitoulin Insurance before closing in 2002 was James Bousquet.
 
In 2003 the building was purchased Gregory & Heather Nevin. The former Insurance office was renovated into a restaurant and operates as Lake Huron Fish and Chips.

 

Walter I. Wagg

A young Mr. Wagg

Walter I. Wagg Store

circa 1911

Walter I. Wagg Store

Wagg Store on Left and Boyle's Boarding House on Right

Photo taken during Fair Day 1918

Walter I. Wagg Store

Reciept dated November 13, 1913

Reciept for the local S.S. No. 7 School (Kaytown) Purchase of a stove pipe

McGillivary Store

circa 1922

McGillivary Store

Malcolm and Clara McGillivary

The Manitoulin Insurance Company

A New Building

Lake Huron Fish & Chips

2004

Home                Providence Bay Listings                Back