Yarmouth Royal Store Ltd. fonds

The Yarmouth Royal Store Limited was purchased from Mr. Robert F. Guest in 1935 by George Killam, Samuel Williamson, George Kenney, Stan O'Brien, and Todd Creighton. These five individuals were well-known Yarmouth businessmen and were known as the 'Big 5' within the local business community. By 1935 the business owners included: Mr. George Killam, Dr. Samuel W. Williamson, Mr. C. Wilmont Dean, Mr. George W. Kennedy and Mr. Clyde E. Nickerson. Mr. Killam owned Killam Brothers, Mr. Dean and Mr. Kenney were both part owners in the Grand Hotel, Mr. Nickerson later owned the Yarmouth Wool Shoppe and Dr. Williamson was a well-known medical practitioner. Mr. Dean originally had worked for a Saint John company that dealt with the Royal Store; he was hired as manager and later got the opportunity to purchase shares. When the store was purchased in 1935 it contained only eight departments. The store's product line included department store and grocery items. The new owners continued to expand and by 1960 the street address of the store included 310, 326, 328, 330 and 332 Main Street. The main store building was located on the corner of Main and Central Streets in a ca.1856 brick building which was the first brick commercial building to be built in Yarmouth. In 1970 the store was sold to Stedmans Department Store.