This two storeyed building of brick construction was built in 1912.
Tom Broome advertised in 1920 as operating groceries in Levin and Weraroa.
Mr H.C. Gapper recorded on tape in 1963 that he managed the Levin shop for Tom Broome where K. Shaw Ltd now are. This must have been after 1910 as Mr Gapper advertised as a carrier in that year.
Mr James Gardner was the owner of the building before about 1914 and he could have been the owner when it was built.
Bakery Shop
By 1915 Mr Frank Gooding was the owner when Mr Harry Hughes started his bakery shop. James W. (Jimmy) Rimmer bought Broome’s grocery in May of 1921. He moved in May 1924 over the road to where G.E.M. supermarket is now and conducted a grocery store there until 1946.
Taieri Dining Rooms
The first known occupants upstairs in the building where Misses Jessie (shown in photo on right) and Helen McKegg who opened the Taieri Dining Rooms in 1913. They had come from the Taieri district in Otago where their father had been in the hotel business. The sisters had gained experience in catering there.
When they came to Levin some businessmen said there were no good dining rooms in Levin and asked them to start the dining rooms. These had an elegance unknown today.
In 1917 a New Zealand wide promotion to raise money for patriotic purposes was held. A Queen Carnival was held in Levin with Jessie winning and becoming Queen of the Carnival. In the provincial finals she gained second place.
In those days Tuesday, the sale day at the saleyards, was a big day for business. The dining rooms were very busy on that day when the farmers came to town after the sale. The advent of the motor vehicle changed this pattern.
Photographic studio
The upstairs floor has always been in two parts with small businesses occupying the smaller part. The first known business was a photographic studio run by Miss Grace Gardner.
My cousin, Mrs Arlette Reading (nee Scott) had her 21st birthday photo taken by Miss Gardner in 1916. Grace was probably in business for some years before that.
Mr Archie Billens bought the business about 1920 or earlier and was in business until 1952.
On the ground floor there was also a small shop in the south corner, apparently from when the building was erected. Mr Harry Hughes opened a bakery in 1915 in this shop. He had bought my uncle, Mr J.W. Scott’s bakery on the corner of Devon and Oxford Streets. I can remember eyeing the goodies in the counter cabinets and no doubt was given one sometimes.
Harry Hughes sold the bakery and shop business to Mr McLean in 1920.
In 1924 Harry Hughes bought both businesses back again, running the shop until 1935. Mr Murray, a jeweller and timepiece repairer, rented the shop until 1963 when K. Shaw Ltd extended into it.
A.L. Williams Ltd, conducted a bakery shop, milk bar and tearooms further north (where the centre of Woolworths Variety is now).
Their building of two storeys with living quarters above and the next two storeyed building which they took over from Fred Pink when he retired from his footwear shop, were demolished when Woolworths reconstructed.
Williams bakery was behind the shop on the corner of the lane where Smith and Brown’s storeroom is now.
I can remember seeing the trays of bread, buns and cakes still steaming from the oven being carried across the lane.
During World War II A.L. Williams was prosecuted and fined under the rationing regulations for using too much cream in their ice-cream. The use of real cream would have accounted for the memorable flavour of their ice-cream and sundaes.
A.L. Williams bought the Taieri Dining Rooms business in 1917, renaming them the Oxford Dining Rooms and conducted them for some years to an unknown date.
Beginning of Travel Centre
From 1953 to 1956 Mrs V.M Harris conducted the British Book Club upstairs in the main part of the floor. She also had a travel desk which was the beginning of the Levin Travel Centre Ltd.
In 1952 she found that to travel to Dunedin a trip had to be made to Wellington to make arrangements. Whilst on the train to Dunedin Mrs Harris vowed to start a travel information service in Levin.
Mrs Hopkins was in business of a womenswear shop in part of the second floor at about the same period. This business was the beginning of Dianne Louise which carried through several proprietors to the present Zillah Modes.
Mr Ken Shaw leased the building in 1924 from Frank Gooding moving his K. Shaw Ltd hardware business from where the south end of the Post Office is now.
Upstairs again. Archie Billens is known to have been in business up to 1952. It is said Mr Don Nairn followed him with the photographic studio.
Mr W.L. (Wally) Clark took over the studio at an unknown date later. His business included the photographic studio, a record distributing and recording company. The rooms were also the headquarters of his dance band. Wally Clark was in the business until 1975.
A Mrs Martena had a coffee bar in the front part of the floor some time about this period.
McKeown and Associates, Taxation Service have occupied part of the floor for the last four years. The remainder of the floor is used as the Jaycee Lounge.
There are probably some gaps in the upstairs floor information. After the lapse of so many years it was difficult to find out all information.
The business of K. Shaw Ltd in now conducted by sons Messrs Alec and Ian Shaw and grandson, Mr Alistair Shaw. Mr Ron Taylor is on the staff and Mr Clark runs the office.
The shop not only sells hardware but also stocks an extensive range of quality chinaware, glassware and kitchenware.
Thanks for help in research to Mr Alec Shaw, Mrs W.L. Clark and Mr Jeremy Harris.
