Appendix j 5210 c general store-ip_concept

Royal Alberta Museum Renewal Project Stage 1: Story Briefing Notes – CONCEPT

Stage 1: Story Briefing Notes – CONTENT

Wing: Human History

Gallery: Transforming Society

Story Code: 5210C

Story Title: Radway “Red and White” General Store

Key Message:

The Radway Red and White Store is representative of the numerous rural stores throughout Alberta that were essential to the sustainability of the local community they served. For over 30 decades, the Prockiw brothers, Ukrainian immigrants, served their community. This story provides a brief history of the Red and White Store brand and the brothers’ journey to operating a Red and White Store.

Story Description:

What is the story these objects have to tell? In 1926, John W. Semeniuk opened the “Red and White Store” in the predominently Ukrainian community of Radway, Alberta. “Red and White” Stores were well-known throughout western Canada during the second quarter of the 20th century. Each shop was individually owned rather than a chain or franchise. In 1940, when Mr. Semeniuk decided to relocate to Manitoba, brothers Tom and Bill Prockiw purchased the store. It was the start of a long and successful business. The original “Red and White” brand began in 1908 when Smith Michael Flickinger opened his first grocery store in Buffalo N.Y. In order to compete with the larger grocery chain A&P, Flickinger decides to create his own brand of coffee. The coffee was an instant success and the “Red and White” brand, inspired by the colour of Flickinger’s store shelves, was established. His success drives him to help small community retail stores succeed amidst competion from the larger retail chains. He establishes a “Voluntary Group System” and becomes a “Red and White Store” franchise-like operation. However, he soon realizes that his membership would be better served if he became the central distribution warehouse. Canadian wholesalers were eager to replicate Flickinger’s success. They received permission to set up similar operations in Canada which quickly spread from coast to coast. In 1908, on the other side of the Atlantic ocean, Hrynko (Harry) and Maria Prockiw, along with their children, 11 year old Magda, 10 year old Wasyl (Bill) and 7 year old Tymko (Tom), prepare to immigrate from their village of Shavaikivtsi, Western Ukraine to Pretty Hill, Alberta (now Myrtle Creek) in the vicinity of Radway. Maria’s parents and siblings had immigrated to Canada seven years earlier. Since the two families missed each other, the Prockiw were encouraged to join Maria’s family. The Prockiw’s new homestead was primarily a crop farm. Harry began sowing his seeds by hand and harvesting using only a sythe. As farming technology evolved and became affordable, Harry and his sons Bill amd Tom, purchased a tractor, a plow and a thresher. The family prospered and were one of the first households to own an automobile, a 1926 Chev Sedan.They also owned a cabinet model Crosley radio purchased at Mersky’s Redway Hardware Store. Their home was opened to family and neighbours every


Sunday afternoon to listen to music and world news. When Bill and Tom decided to purchase the Red and White Store, Tom moved to Radway to operate the business. Bill and his mother stayed on the farm for a few more years before joining Tom. The store was stocked with clothing, footwear, fabrics and notions, groceries, and farm supplies which served the needs of the community of Radway and surrounding area. They were open everyday except Sunday. The doors were opened at 9:00 am and closed between 8:00 pm and 10:00 pm depending on how busy they were. Local residents remember the brothers as generous men. They extended credit and cash loans to customers in need of financial assistance. The Livestock Buying Station had an arrangement where farmers selling livestock would receive their money from the Red and White Store. The store would then be reimbursed by the Livestock Buying Station. The brothers did have to serve as their own security guards since break and enters did occur. They owned a .22 caliber firearm and only used it once to scare the perpetrator. When asked what they most remember about the Radway store, longtime residents state the shoes. As a new bride in the 1950s, “I remember buying a pair of red shoes” recalls Lena Chykerda while Tom Fedyna remembers, “…a large table with piles of overalls, work shoes – lots of shoes” and “often after harvest time, people would go buy new shoes…”. Further to attending to the operation of the store Bill and Tom participated in and supported Radway’s community activities. As amateur musicians, who enjoyed Ukrainian folk music, they played for weddings and dances. Tom was known as a good fiddler and Bill played drums. Both loved curling and supported their local curling club. Bill was also a volunteer fire fighter with the Radway village fire brigade. The bachelor brothers operated the store from October 1940 until September 1972 when Bill was tragically killed in a car accident and Tom severely injured. For over three decades Bill and Tom served their community in many ways.

Key Object(s): These objects are those ones upon which the Story Display will hang – those which are essential to convey the key message.

Object Name Accession Number

Object Group

What do you want to say about this object? This must relate to the key message)

Cash Register

H83.36.1181

The cash register was used in Radway’s Red and White Store from 1926 until 1972 when the store closed.

Counter H83.36.1394 On the day the Radway Red & White Store opened its doors in 1926, this counter graced the left hand side of the store against a backdrop of wall


shelves displaying canned goods.

1940s Merchandise by Theme Pennant of Hitler chased by a bulldog Calendar – image of soldier coming home to family

H83.36.623 H83.36.1302

Both the pennant and the calendar sold in the Radway Red & White Store provide context for the 1940s display. “The End is in Sight” and families will soon be reunited.

Christmas Box of Xmas Ribbons Banner/Santa on horse Santa Sign Garland Tinsel (8) Lights (2) Advertising Card for Hankies Children’s Hankies (8) Advertising Card for Boy’s Ties Boy’s gift tie set (2) Advertising Card for Handbags Purse Purse Advertising Card for Toys Xmas book Colouring books (4) Spinning Top RCMP Bank Rolly Doll Scissors (2) Pillow Cover Slippers (man’s) Slippers (boy) Slippers (girl) Slippers (woman’s) Striped Pyjamas (2)

H83.36.748a,b H83.36.1449/1452 H83.36.1331 H83.36.1483 H83.36.671-.703 H83.36.905-.906 H83.36.1522 H83.36.323-.329 H83.36.1524 H83.36.39a-e H83.36.1519 H83.36.3 H83.36.33 H83.36.1520 H83.36.776 H83.36.778-.781 H83.36.725 H83.36.726 H83.36.724 H83.36.728-.729 H83.36.893 H83.36.1286a,b H83.36.1223a,b H83.36.974a,b H83.36.1146a,b H83.36.441-.442

The first half of the 1940s was grim due to the War. Christmas was both a joyous occasion but also a sad one. Many families were celebrating Christmas without their loved ones, family members serving their country overseas or worst, casualties of war. The Red and White Store inventory provides a glimpse of what was available at that time for gift giving.

Sewing Notions Buttons on cards Box of bias tape Box of Trim

H83.36.919 H83.36.920 H83.36.921 H83.36.923 H83.36.1037 H83.36.1038 H83.36.1039 H83.36,945a,b H83.36.740a,b

Access to fabric and sewing notions would have been important to the women of Radway. In a culture of “Make, Mend and Do”, women were mending or altering clothes. Women were also likely to make their own clothes since the choice of clothing in a small community was limited. The


Box of Trim Roll of Ribbon Roll of Ribbon Box of Yarn Box of Yarn Bolts of Fabric (3)

H83.36.901a,b H83.36.720 H83.36.1375 H83.36.687a-c H83.36.690a-c H83.36.966-.968

Red and White Store inventory indicates that more than needle and thread was available for purchase.

Footwear Shoes Shoes Shoes Shoes Shoes Shoes Shoes Shoes Shoes Boot Boot Boot

H83.36.1078a,b H83.36.1105a,b H83.36.1101a,b H83.36.1135a,b H83.36.1147a,b H83.36.1134a,b H83.36.1079a,b H83.36.1285a,b H83.36.1159a,b H83.36.1197a,b H83.36.1254a,b H83.36.1258a,b

According to some long time Radway residents, the Red and White Store was the only store in town that sold shoes. People remember the abundance of shoes available at the store. The 1940s shoe inventory indicates that shoes had to be well make and practical. Shoes were not overly fancy or colourful.

1950s Merchandise by Theme Banners/Alberta’s Jubilee Poster/Queen is Crowned Ukrainian Movie Poster Calendar with girl wearing jeans, plaid shirt and cowboy hat

H83.36.1371-.1372 H83.36.1343 H83.36.1367 H83.36.1304

The 1950s offers some things to celebrate. Queen Elizabeth II is crowned and Alberta celebrates her 50th Anniversary as a province. The movie poster and calendar, both bilingual (English and Ukrainian), demonstrate the strong Ukrainian influence in Radway, a small rural community in central Alberta.

Clothing for the Family Dress (girl) Dress (girl) Dress (woman) Skirt (girl) Skirt (girl)

H83.36.104 H83.36.136 H83.36.233a,b H83.36.133 H83.36.123

The Red and White Store catered not only to the adults, but also to the children. Although a selection of winter clothing are represented,


Pants Pants Jeans Jeans Jeans Jeans Jeans Shirt Shirt Shirt Shirt Shirt Shirt Shirt Shirt Coat (girl) Coat (boy) Coat (toddler) Mittens (blue) Mittens (red) Head Scarf (blue) Head Scarf (red) Cap (red) Cap (red and blue)

H83.36.80 H83.36.89 H83.36.60 H83.36.65 H83.36.58 H83.36.64 H83.36.61 H83.36.126 H83.36.251 H83.36.182a-c H83.36.581 H83.36.561 H83.36.109 H83.36.112 H83.36.154 H83.36.466a,b H83.36.475a,b H83.36.465a,b H83.36.361 H83.36.296 H83.36.544 H83.36.545 H83.36.264 H83.36.278

clothing was available for every season. Plaid was all the rage in the 1950s as the inventory suggests: plaid pants, plaid shirts, plaid dresses, plaid skirts. Notice the prevalence of the colour red and blue in the garments. Red has always been a predominant colour within the Ukrainian culture. Whether the red was accompanied by the colours black or blue depended on what part of the Ukraine one came from. The Prockiw brothers came from Shavaikivtsi, Chortkiw in the northwestern part of the Ukraine. Red and Blue were the predominant colours. This undoubtedly influenced their choice of garment colours ordered for the store inventory.


Footwear Shoes Shoes Shoes Shoes Shoes Shoes Shoes (red) Rubbers Rubbers Rubbers Rubbers Rain boots Rain boots Boots Boots Boots Boots Boots

H83.36.1231a,b H83.36.1158a,b H83.36.1157a,b H83.36.1123a,b H83.36.1285a,b H83.36.1150a,b H85.736.2a,b H83.36.1240a,b H83.36.1244a,b H83.36.1247a,b H83.36.1261a,b H83.36.1210a,b H83.36.1274a,b H83.36.1267a,b H83.36.1268a,b H83.36.1226a,b H83.36.1273a,b H83.36.1285a,b

The iconic white and blue saddle shoe paired with bobby socks was all the rage by the 1950s. But saddle shoes were not new. They were first developed in the early 1900s as a golf shoe for men. By the 1920s women were wearing them. A walking heel was added to the normally low-heeled shoe. In the 1930s men were wearing them as part of their business attire. By the late 1940s, every teenager was wearing them. It wasn’t until the 1950s that the saddle shoes reached movie star status. To protect one’s shoes when


the snow turned to slush, black rubber overshoes were used. They were available for men, women and children. They even accommodated the different heel heights of shoes.

Miscellaneous Linoleum advert. Sign Seeds sign SHur-Gain Animal Feed sign Trainload Sale Sign Memorandum Box of Quaker Oats (2) Box of Sugar Pops

H83.36.1332 H83.36.1336 H83.36.1342 H83.36.1404 H83.36.1578 H83.36.1349-,1350 H83.36.1351

These items give further context of what the store provided.

Documents

Appendix j 5210 c general store-ip_concept