The earliest advertisement for Farmer’s on “John Street, Jas. Wilson’s old stand” appears in the May 29th, 1869 Neilson’s Weekly. William Farmer’s ad also appears in the July 3, 1874 and the August 3, 1877 Arnprior Review as a “manufacturer and dealer in all kinds of Boots & Shoes, Rubbers etc”. He also advertises The Central Boot and Shoe Store in the December 1888 Chronicle where he caters to farmers and lumbermen. The business stayed in the Farmer family until 2005 when the youngest generation of Farmer brothers decided to pursue other interests. Doug Farmer died on July 26, 2002, at the age of 73.
Scope and Content
1. Copy of short article and photo of store (inside view) in the early 1900s, from Arnprior Anniversary Booklet, 1987. Attached: an ad of Farmers, 1987.
2. Copy of short article from Chronicle Holiday Edition 1904, with photo of the store (outside view).
3. Clipping of short article, “Farmer’s Part of Arnprior History” by Art Milnes, Arnprior News, July 18, 1993. Edward Farmer, Edwin Farmer, Doug Farmer
4. Clipping of article from Arnprior Chronicle, Chronicle, Oct. 11, 1995, “The store in business since 1869” by Lauri Wall, about the history of Farmer Brothers with photo of Ross Farmer and Doug Farmer. [Farmers may be the oldest family-owned shoe store in Canada, continuously in business since 1869]. Key terms: River Boot. Evan Farmer. Shoemakers. Penny Loafers.
5. Photocopy of article in Chronicle, Jan. 18, 2005, by Jason Marshall, ‘Downtown “heart and sole” says goodbye’. Farmer Bros. closing sale after celebrating 135th anniversary last year. Ross Farmer last family member to manage the store. His great-grandfather William opened the business in 1869 in another location on John. It was moved to its present location at 124 John Street 21 years later.
6. Five colour prints, photos taken by Peter Hessel on January 21, 2005, showing store front and interior of the store during closing sale.
7. Photocopy of article in Ottawa Citizen, January 27, 2005, by Hayley Mick: “The last one out”. Photos of store in 1924 and staff
8. Clipping of article in Chronicle, January 25, 2005, by Jason Marshall, “End of an era: goodbye Farmer’s, and “The amazing story of Farmer Bros.” Photos.
9. History of the Farmer family, with pictures.
10. Death Notice of William Farmer.
Notes
See article on renovations to store, Chronicle Feb. 14, 1930, page 8.