Postcard Memories is a series of historic views, stories and photos of Bradford West Gwillimbury, a trip down memory lane on a Saturday morning.
The two-storey, solid-brick building located at 37 Holland St. West on the corner of Moore and Holland, has been home to many businesses over the years, including Western Tire, Municipal Savings and Loan, a grocery store and now a tutoring centre.
Originally, it was the Kilkenny Furniture Store.
The Kilkenny family first opened a furniture and undertaker business at this same location in 1842. Their primary business was in cabinetmaking when it first opened. The front part of the building was a furniture display and showroom. There were stairs on the west side leading up to the showroom.
It was later turned into a funeral parlour when funerals ceased to be held in the deceased’s home. Thomas Kilkenny is said to have introduced the first hearse to Simcoe County around 1856.
Thomas's son, Frank, and grandson Keith were also part of the businesses.
In the early 1930s, Len and Art Saint built an addition on the back of the building. The back part was used as an embalming room and for casket storage. It had two car bays. There was an elevator in the back part that provided access to the second floor.
After Frank died in 1963, Keith remained an undertaker for only a short time. He preferred to work with refrigerators, furniture, freezers and radios. There was an office off Lovers Lane (Moore St.) that later became the location of Keith’s radio repair shop.
-from the BWGPL Archives
