Main Street 1

MAIN STREET - FLIN FLON

THEN AND NOW

by G.B. Reid

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Over the years, I have gathered a number of old pictures from Post Cards, Flin Flon Visual History, and from friends, also a number of photographs which I have captured myself over the years, starting in 1958 to present. One does not realize that over the 58 years which I have been part of this community, the changes that have transpired. Hopefully this will bring back memories, and help you realize the changes which have transpired. If you can help me add additional information to this presentation, it would be greatly appreciated.

I would estimate that this would be in the 1930's, long before pavement, and real sidewalks. This certainly gives you a feeling like in the movies – North to Alaska with John Wayne. The only thing missing is the Stage Coach and Horses. With this being a mining town, there was just what they called teamsters that drove the horses, which pulled the sleighs, that moved everything which met the needs of a mining community.

When you look at this image, that was where two of the corner stones of Main Street were, Ostry's General store on the left and the Flin Flon Hotel on the right which burnt down in 1962, and was rebuilt a few years later. It operated for a good number of years, but closed down approximately 25 years ago and has not been re-opened. Ostry's General Store once located across from the Flin Flon Hotel was sold by Ostry's and then operated under the name of Stylerite Stores for a number of years, then closed down, becoming a restaurant known as Mr. Ribs. After a number of years of operation, this restaurant also fell victim to fire, and the charred building was removed, and the property has been converted into a small community park or area known as Pioneer Square. Throughout the year, during special events, there are functions conducted in this area for the benefit of our citizens and community.

This is an image taken from a Post Card which I would estimate in the early 1940's. The street looks considerably better, and there are sidewalks. It is very much beginning to look like a business centre.

This is a recent image of Main Street 2015 showing Xmas lights, and Main Street during the evening hours. Main Street today is a much quieter place than it was from 1930 – 1970. With the coming of the Flintoba Mall, the complexion has changed activities of Main Street.

This image shows the Fall Inn next to Ostry's Store which was one of the most notorious businesses on Main Street, owned and operated by Jack Freedman, one of the pillars of Main Street, and long time Mayor of our city. Jack was one who was there to serve the public, and to make your day a little brighter. His pool room and card tables provided many of our citizens with recreation and fellowship. My first trip into Jack's pool hall was one I will always remember as at one end of the table, the table was at your waist and at the other end it would be considerably lower but believe it or not, these tables were level. The way people crawled up onto the tables, rather than using a rest to shoot their ball, I found this extremely amazing. Where I came from, if you would of crawled up on a table, the old scotsman who ran the place would of grabbed you by the ear and said Laddie, I will be having none of that, and kick your butt into the street. There is no doubt in my mind that Jack Freedman's Fall Inn as it was called, provided everybody with recreation, cigarettes and confectionary needs. You were also able to borrow a bottle of just about any kind of liquor that was available with the pledge that you would return it tomorrow. This was a service, I don't think you would find in too many communities. Good memories.

Today when we look where Jack Freedman's Fall Inn once existed, stands a modern day Subway Cafe. This is a great restaurant but I don't think it ever will have as colorful a past as Jack's Fall Inn. Next door, once stood the Mary Jane Shop which was Flin Flon's Ladies Fashion Store owned and operated by Steve and Mary Olench. They also operated a second store in Dauphin, Manitoba. Mary Olench was a lady who definitely knew how to dress, and also knew how to dress others. When you were looking for a present for your lady friend or your wife, I'll guarantee you that she would send you home with something that met your needs.

This image comes from a post card taken in 1941. I went back to this approximate location to try and duplicate this image, but due to modern structure change, I needed a considerable higher level of elevation. Due to new structures which have been created over the past 50 years, I was unable to line up with Main Street in the same manner. When you look at this photograph, the one time post office, Bus Depot and Depot Lunch restaurant owned and operated by Mary & Jack Reid has now been replaced by a modern day Fire Hall and Police Station. The Western Grocers structure obviously has not been built. It stood there for many years as our city's main wholesaler and food distributor. Today this structure has been removed, and replaced by a Provincial Building which houses the Court House and Provincial offices.

This is the Provincial Building which is named after a local member of Parliament, Tom Barrow, who served our community for a number of years.

Here is a picture which I took in the spring of 1958 showing the Western Grocers Building on the left side of the picture. This was the major food distributor in our community at that time. Ostry's Grocery and Clothing store on the left hand side of Main St., opposite the notorious Flin Flon Hotel where some stopped in for a beer on the way to work and again 8 hours later on their way home to wash down the dust after a hard days work.

This is a picture I always remember, the smell of fresh bread coming from Flochs Bakery at the bottom of the hill on the left, beside the bread Van. It takes me back to my days when I was a resident of Dorm 3, Room 8 and recall going down this hill to work at 11 p.m. and smelling the fresh bread. In the summer months, the doors were open and you were able to see in and see the bakers at work. When you returned in the morning, the bread was being delivered. On the right side of the photograph was the new Community Hall which was officially opened in the spring of 1958. At the bottom of the hill you can see Western Grocers on the far left, the Flin Flon Hotel and Main Street.

This photograph shows how No. 10 highway today, 2016 is part of Main Street. Flochs Bakery has been removed along with Hudson Bay Plumbing Warehouse, and the road is considerably straiter than it once was. Yes things do change.

This image was taken in 2016, and also shows a great deal of change. What is known as Flin Flon Flooring Centre today, was once Bell's Hardware. I can remember purchasing dynamite and caps in the hardware store to blast limestone for landscaping my yard. Times have changed. When Bell's closed the hardware, it was purchased by Jack Freedman who moved from his old location of the Fall Inn, to operate his business from a new location three doors down. After a number of years, the Freedman business was sold to a long time resident ,Lloyd Young who operated for a number of years and closed, due to health. Next door we look at a structure which also provided our community with a lot of good entertainment in the form of movies and was called The Rex Theatre. When the Rex Theatre closed, the building was renovated to accommodate a clothing outlet known as Warehouse One. Offices were constructed up above for Real Estate and Liberty Tax. As we move to the next building which is known as The Orange Toad, this business was created by an innovated young lady by the name of Mehgan McKeachnie. She has turned this into one of Main Streets major attractions, a coffee shop which is visited by many, each and every day. I first recall this business being owned and operated by Merv Ginsburg who operated the Royal Drug Store, later selling it to Carolyn LeBlanc who operated it as Carolyn's Pharmacy. It was sold to Wade and Linda Lowe who operated floral and wedding services and music, and they in turn sold it to Mehgan McKeachnie, owner of The Orange Toad today.

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