Written by Mikenna Richardson on behalf of the Orillia Museum of Art & History (OMAH)
Rarely do we have such excellent photos of the interior of a local store, and yet this photo transports you into the Dick brothers’ shoe store. The walls are lined with shoeboxes, offering an unprecedented selection for Orillians.
Clifford Dick stands in the store, waiting to assist customers. John David Dick opened the original store in Orillia, and eventually passed it on to his sons, Ivan and Clifford.
At the time of Vernon’s Simcoe County Directory in 1923, the pair of sons already owned the store. The image helps to identify the location of the store.
The yearly editions of the directory name a few locations of the business, one of which was the southwest corner of Mississaga and Peter street. The windows on the left side of the store line up with the covered windows of 79 Mississaga St. E.
Along with the image, there was correspondence from 1922 detailing storefront lease negotiations. Clifford handled this, communicating with the building’s owner and a broker.
Interestingly enough, in one letter addressed to Clifford, the agent assures him he will be allowed to renovate the store. On the opposite side of the letter, Clifford had begun to draw out his plans for the store, including the white wall pictured at the back.
For many years, the Dick brothers’ store was well-known throughout town for its shoes.
While the store’s opening date is hard to determine, we know it continued to operate for quite some time due to its consistent advertising in local directories. Anyone looking for excellent service, shoes and a number of other items could find themselves in Dick Brother’s’ Smart Shoes and Leather Goods.
Next week, we will feature another object from the OMAH collection that showcases our local history.