Above is an image of 'Bellville' on Emsdorf Street - the origins of which have been covered here before. It was built in 1895 for William Bethune and his family. Some time soon after 1928, the shop was added in the side of the front garden closest to the other shops at the west end of Emsdorf Street. Isaac Cairns ran the shop as an ironmongers for a long spell between the 1930s and 1960s. Around the time that he died, the business was taken over by John McMillan.
McMillan's hardware shop continued through to the 1980s and many will recall the diverse range of products available and the obliging nature of its brown-overcoated owner. The image below features a faded sign stating 'garden seeds' and 'hardware'. The extensive display in the double front window features tea towels, windbreaks and camping equipment. There are also many advertising signs - for keys, gas, batteries, paraffin, etc. What you do remember buying here?
Along with many other shops in this street, McMillan's closed around the mid-late 1980s and the shop was demolished. If you know exactly when it closed - please comment.
McMillan's hardware shop continued through to the 1980s and many will recall the diverse range of products available and the obliging nature of its brown-overcoated owner. The image below features a faded sign stating 'garden seeds' and 'hardware'. The extensive display in the double front window features tea towels, windbreaks and camping equipment. There are also many advertising signs - for keys, gas, batteries, paraffin, etc. What you do remember buying here?
Along with many other shops in this street, McMillan's closed around the mid-late 1980s and the shop was demolished. If you know exactly when it closed - please comment.
RSS Feed
