rev-digital-FINAL-PRESS-2023-PAGES-AHCC-QUARTER-BLEED - Flipbook - Page 82
Then & Now
ALMAGUIN HIGHLANDS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
THEN&NOW
Three Generations of
BY
F
at your service
Joanne Collins
Griffith Bros
PHOTOGRAPHY
or the 40 plus years that I have lived in the Almaguin area,
Vera would look after the bookkeeping when Shell and the
the Griffith family has operated a business that fulfilled an
Griffith family moved their location across the highway to the
important part in keeping our vehicles on the road, and when
southbound side in 1965. The business flourished as the traffic
they happened to find a ditch, getting them back on track.
on Highway 11 increased. Times were good economically, and
If you have driven these roads when winter weather is at its
the Griffiths provided a necessary commodity. Families were
worst, you know that even the best drivers will eventually need
large, huge cars with thirsty gas tanks were popular, and the era
to call the Griffith brothers to the rescue.
of the road trip was in full swing. The evolution of the compact
car when gas prices started to rise was yet to come, so when
The Griffiths’ business has always been about supporting the
vacation time rolled around, people were on the move. When
community that has supported them since 1960, the year
the Shell became available for purchase in 1978, Clarence’s
Clarence Griffith moved his family to South River. Clarence
sons, Kerry and Dean, purchased the station offering gasoline,
had been employed as a tester/fitter in the Avro Arrow Project
a repair service, towing, along with dining in their distinct and
until 1959 when the program was cancelled resulting in over
noticeable red-topped restaurant. Andrew and Matthew, the
14,000 jobs lost. Learning that a Shell lease was available, on
current ‘Griffith Bros.’ were just kids then. Andrew recalls,
April 1, 1960, Clarence opened the doors of the Happy Landing
“we would sit on bar stools at the Shell restaurant (Antonio’s
Shell station in South River, which became a landmark food and
now) counter and await the perfect strawberry milkshake; that
fuel stop for travellers along the Trans-Canada Highway. C.E.
was only perfect, the waitresses would say, if the straw stood
Griffith & Sons was a family affair as sons Garth, Dean, and
straight up in it. As young kids, it was a great opportunity to
Kerry helped their father run the busy gas station and restaurant
have small jobs and responsibilities such as keeping the Coke
while their sister Cheryl waited on tables. Eventually, young
machine topped up.”
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