Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
Marsh Store
General material designation
- Textual record
Parallel title
Marsh Store Coldstream
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Fonds
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Physical description area
Physical description
342 cm of textual records
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Archival description area
Name of creator
Administrative history
In 1862 Jacob Marsh married Louisa Woods from Coldstream, Ontario and they took over the running of the general store previously owned by the Woods family. When Mrs. Woods died the building was moved across the street near the woolen and saw mills. These mills were already owned by the Marsh family. Some records from these mills are included in this fonds.
In 1870, additional living quarters were added to the building. Around this time the Great Western Railway and Telegraph Company ran its lines through Coldstream and Komoka and the office was located in the Marsh store with one of Jacob’s daughters acting was the operator.
The Marsh Store became the centre for other area businesses and services. The included the community library which was situated in one of the back room and the local telephone company in 1908. The Lobo Mutual Fire Insurance Company started in 1886 with Jacob as the manager of the company. Other organizations included the local lecture club and even the Town Council.
The Marsh store was taken over by Jacob’s youngest son until his death in 1955. In 1977 the St Clair Region Conservation Authority purchased the property with the plan to restore the property. The Marsh Store was restored but eventually the property was sold and remains in Coldstream currently still operating as a business.
Custodial history
The Marsh Family owned the store since 1862 until 1955. In 1977, the property was purchased by the St Clair Region Conservation Authority and the records were transferred in the sale. In 1978 a committee was created y the Conservation Foundation to restore the building and preserve the store. A fund raising campaign was started. Eventually the cost meant that the project could not proceed and the building was sold. The adjacent land was maintained by the St Clair Region Conservation Authority. Records were disposed of and area residents rescued what they could.and donated them to the Middlesex Historical Society. The records were transferred to the Archives in 2014 by the President of the Historical Society.
Scope and content
The Marsh Store was a community hub for Coldstream and Lobo Township. There are eight series. These include store records, sawmill and gristmill records, and woollen mill records. Other businesses that operated out of there were: the Coldstream Telephone Company ; Lobo Mutual Fire Insurance; and the Great Western Railway and Telegraph Company. Of special interest are the magazines and books located in the Public Library collection which also operated out of the Marsh Store. Jacob Marsh was also involved with the local council which also operated from his store.
Notes area
Physical condition
Most of the material is in good to fair shape. Some of the early ledger books have been damaged and are fragile. Three have been sent for conservation and were stabilized and cleaned.
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Some records are fragile and handling may be restricted for preservation of material.
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Some material may be subject to privacy and copyright considerations. Please check with the Archivist.
Finding aids
A Finding Aid is available.
Associated materials
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No further accruals expected.
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Status
Final
Level of detail
Full
Dates of creation, revision and deletion
March 31, 2018