Community Contributed
Richard Thomas Butt - Premier Butcher Shop, Levin
Richard Thomas Butt operated The Premier Butcher Shop in Levin between 1894 and at least until 1907.
I was prompted to create this item in Kete when a visitor to the Levin Library, Myles Murray, told me about his grandfather who was a butcher in Oxford Street around 1900. He was even able to provide me with a photo of the shop:
Situated in Oxford Street on or near the southern boundary of the Levin Post office. There is no certain date for this photo, but it could have been between 1899 and 1904. The figures in the photo are from left, Richard Thomas Butt (owner) and Mr Rippon, the child is Leslie Esther Butt (my mother) and Esther Jane Butt, wife of Richard Butt.
According to Page 82 of the Chronicle publication Levin 75th Jubilee Supplement:
The C.B.A. bank stands on the site of a shop which existed at least in 1894, because Reg Butt was born that year in a house at the back of the section. His father, Dick, had a butchery at the front.
In 1897 Mr Butts lived behind the butcher's shop in Oxford Street - as evidenced by a newspaper report of a fire there - see picture at left.
From then on, the shop was a butchery for many years.
They included Bulliman's, Craddock and Klue, and Carter Bros (from about 1916 to 1920 when they shifted across the street).
Later joint proprietors were George Lamb and Mr Earle (from about 1925 to 1930). Later still, Carter Bros moved back into the shop with their Excelsior branch butchery.
Further quick research shows:
- In Births Deaths Marriages (historical online) we find his birth (30 November 1857) and then, in 1890, find him marrying Esther June (elsewhere spelled Jane) nee Boulton- born in 1866.
- 4 children are listed for Richard and Esther Butt: Muriel Zoe (1893), Sydney Claude (1890), Esther Leslie (1897), Richard Reginald (1895).
- On 22 November 899, The Evening Post reported on an auction of land belonging to the Wellington-Manawatu Railway Co. the previous afternoon - included in the list of purchasers is R. Butt - 2 purchases: Block II Section No. 5, R. Butt for £180 and Block lll. Section No. 4, R. Butt for £70.
- Richard Butt - Butcher, Levin in the Electoral Rolls of 1900, 1905-6, in 1911 his occupation is given as Farmer.
- Esther Jane died aged 52 on 30 October 1918 - wife of Richard Butt Arapaepae Road, Levin.
- R. Butt advertising for staff in October 1907 (in the Evening Post) R. Butt advertising for staff in October 1906 (image at right)
- Sadly we find an item in the Evening Post of 29 December 1920, about the drowning of an infant near Levin - he was Douglas Butt, grandson of Richard Butt, infant son of Mr Reginald Butt "accidentally-drowned in a stream hear his father's house yesterday."
- The Feilding Star of 29 December 1920 further ealborates that he: "was accidentally drowned in a stream near his father's house yesterday. The child had wandered away while his, parents were milking, and although he was missed immediately, it was too late to save him."
- Richard Thomas Butt died on 23 July 1926 - aged 67 years - his death notice was published in The Evening Post on 31 July 1926 - it read:
"BUTT-On the 23rd July, 1926, at Levin, Richard, eldest son of the late Captain R. G. and Mrs. Butt, of Wellington, and brother of E. H. G. and W. Butt and Mrs. Kertland, in his 67th year."