Barbour's General Store facts for kids
Barbour's General Store was once a special museum and a place for tourists in Saint John, New Brunswick. It was a real general store building from the 1800s. People kept it safe to show visitors what life was like in the Victorian era. The store was located in the uptown area of Saint John. In 2015, it reopened as a working shop and a place to get local information. Sadly, after a fire in 2022, the building was taken down in July 2023.
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A Look Back: The Store's Journey
The museum first opened its doors in 1967. The store building itself was built a long time ago, in the mid-1800s, in a place called Sheffield, New Brunswick. It served as a general store for many years, from the 1860s until the 1940s.
In the late 1960s, the building was moved all the way to Saint John. It was even towed down the Saint John River! A company called G.E. Barbour Company paid to save the building and fill it with old items. This is why the store was named after them.
How the Idea Started
A local businessman named Ralph Brenan worked for G.E. Barbour. He had a granddaughter who didn't know what coal was, or many other everyday things from his own childhood. Mr. Brenan wanted to help children learn about local history. So, he decided to create a museum in the center of Saint John.
The Fire and Demolition
On January 25, 2022, the building was badly damaged by a fire. Because of this, the store had to close. The building was later taken down in June 2023.
What You Could See Inside
The general store was filled with old items that would have been on shelves long ago. You could see things like clothing, shoes, hats, and old medicines. There were also household items such as tools, lamps, and board games. Some local products were on display too, like Surprise Soap from St. Stephen and Crosby's Molasses made in Saint John.
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