The bread route which sustained the
Hearn family through many years of the depression began quite accidentally. It was Bob
Hearn's custom to go into St. Marys on Saturday evening. While the purpose of the trip was largely social - a time to meet and chat with friends -- he also used the trip as an
opportunity to pick up groceries and other supplies for the family. The neighbours, knowing that he was going into town would often ask him to buy groceries for them. Gradually people began to depend on him for their bread supply and eventually Bob established a formal bread route that became a full-time job as a bread peddler for the Thames Valley Bakery which had a shop on the north side of Queen street between Water and Wellington streets. Here is a picture of the staff of the bakery standing in front of the store. Bob is the man in the cap standing on the running board of his truck. In a typical day, Bob would drive the truck into St. Marys, pick up his bread and then head out on the route. In one leg of the route Bob went as far north as
Kasterville on the edge of
Ellice Township and then turned west going as far as the
Fullarton Township line. By that time it would be noon hour an
d he would stop to have his dinner at Joe Herman's whose farm was just beyond the Cheese Factory on Black Creek. After dinner Bob would work his way back home. As soon as they were old enough, Bob's b
oys helped with the route. The picture above shows Kelly as a teenager standing next to his father at the home farm. In the winter when the roads were impassible, Bob peddled his bread using a horse and team. In the picture below he appears to be wearing a huge fur coat While it appears warm, one can't help but wonder whether anything could protect you against the severe weather in a typical January freeze. On such a day I am sure that that the warmth of Mrs. Herman's farm kitchen was especially welcome. Kelly continued to work with his father and when Kelly was married in 1937, his father generously gave him the bread route and Bob took a job working for
Avonbank Cheese and Butter company.
opportunity to pick up groceries and other supplies for the family. The neighbours, knowing that he was going into town would often ask him to buy groceries for them. Gradually people began to depend on him for their bread supply and eventually Bob established a formal bread route that became a full-time job as a bread peddler for the Thames Valley Bakery which had a shop on the north side of Queen street between Water and Wellington streets. Here is a picture of the staff of the bakery standing in front of the store. Bob is the man in the cap standing on the running board of his truck. In a typical day, Bob would drive the truck into St. Marys, pick up his bread and then head out on the route. In one leg of the route Bob went as far north as Kasterville on the edge of Ellice Township and then turned west going as far as the Fullarton Township line. By that time it would be noon hour an
d he would stop to have his dinner at Joe Herman's whose farm was just beyond the Cheese Factory on Black Creek. After dinner Bob would work his way back home. As soon as they were old enough, Bob's b
oys helped with the route. The picture above shows Kelly as a teenager standing next to his father at the home farm. In the winter when the roads were impassible, Bob peddled his bread using a horse and team. In the picture below he appears to be wearing a huge fur coat While it appears warm, one can't help but wonder whether anything could protect you against the severe weather in a typical January freeze. On such a day I am sure that that the warmth of Mrs. Herman's farm kitchen was especially welcome. Kelly continued to work with his father and when Kelly was married in 1937, his father generously gave him the bread route and Bob took a job working for Avonbank Cheese and Butter company.
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