Search Term Record
Metadata
Name |
Legate's Furniture Store |
Details |
In 2015, a downtown Owen Sound store, Legate's Fine Furniture, closed in April. The store had celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2014. The store president and owner at its closing was Kevin Legate, the fourth generation of his family to run the business. It had been opened by his great-grandfather, William Legate, in 1914. The location was 790 2nd Ave. East (also fronted as well on some of 8th St. East as it was a corner location). The store building was built in 1906 by William Legate. It originally housed a Farmer's Bank, a feed and flower (flour?) store, and a grocery store. In 1914, Mr. Legate converted the main floor into a furniture store, at the suggestion of William Goldblatt. There were apartments above the bank and stores, that eventually were converted into use by the furniture business. Eventually all three floors of the building were furniture display areas. William Legate's son, Walter Legate (Kevin's grandfather) joined the business in 1919 after he returned to Canada from his military service overseas. Walter worked there until 1980, when his son Dave Legate took over. Kevin Legate joined the business later on in the 1980s. Walter Legate was known to extend credit to customers during the Great Depression. This gesture wasn't soon forgotten by some local families, who remembered this kindness and continued to do business with the store in later years. Grey Roots Museum has a 1930s dining room suite made by the Spiesz Furniture Co. of Hanover that was retailed at the Legate Furniture Store. Sources: "Fourth Generation The Last at Legates", SUN-TIMES (Owen Sound), Tuesday, April 7, 2015, pp. 1 and A3 |
