Shell Oil Bulk Station

The present site of the Springfield Fire Rescue hall just east of Anola was once the location of the Shell Oil bulk petroleum distributing station, built in 1960. It was under the management of Maurice Dandenault. In 1967 the com­pany introduced liquid fertilizer, which was difficult to market to area farmers, resulting in a slow response. Due to a large amount of time and effort by Mr. Dandenault and his staff, as well as changes in farming methods, response increased. The services were eventually moved west into Dugald, where it remains today.

 

Anola Building Centre

Carl and Ruth Cook moved to Anola with their children Clifford, Linda, Allison, and Garth in the spring of 1966. Carl had been a carpenter most of his working life, but now was the Manager of the Beaver Lumber in Beausejour.
Upon arriving in Anola, they bought property from Fred Hadaller, where the Last Round Up dance hall had once stood. Seeing a market for ready to move homes, the lot was used for this purpose. In 1974 they decided to open their own lumber and hardware store. It was called Chimo Building Centre.
The first store was a one car garage, with Carl and Ruth filling the positions of clerks, truck drivers, yard men, and anything else that had to be done. Later they joined the Timber Mart buying group and the name was changed to Anola Building Centre.
The business has grown over the years and has supported five families. Carl and Ruth's son Garth, their daughter Allison and her husband Darren, and Terry Godfredsen are long time employees. Neil Kendel and Gordon Molinski also work there. The family continues to reside in the village of Anola, except Linda who lives in Winnipeg. The Cook family: "Business has been good, and we extend our appreciation for the support of the communities."

 

Susan's Insurance

In 1979, Susan Dubinski opened Susan's Insurance on the north side of highway #15,just a little west of where the old Anola Hall stood. This was Anola's first (and only) Autopac and insurance brokerage. As of 2007 the business is in the process of changing ownership, as Susan has sold to Honzon Insurance. For a brief time a Sony repair and sales shop shared space. Latercame Bar's Video owned by Barb Gerbrandt and a picture framing shop by James Seymour, followed by Cindy Mitchell (Bales) who also grew up right in the village of Anola, and who sold the local wine & beer making supplies.
The last cottage enterprise was owned by Maryanne Greenway and operated as a nail salon.
In 1986 Eugene Dubinski, his wife Diane & son Terry opened a gift and consignment store where the local hair salon
now stands, only a few hundred feet west of Susan's Insurance. The back kitchen was operated by Les Gerbrandt as the Possum Hut Pizza. For a short time, an upholsterer rented, followed by a butcher shop. The building was eventually sold to Dave & Christine Keller and is now known as Incognito Hair.
The stylists, Christine and Laura, have established a well deserved clientele by offering professional products and services in an enjoyable, relaxing atmos­phere. Manicures and pedicures are offered by nail technician Naomi. The same building also leases space to Essential Kneads massage therapy, operated by Mandy Richter. In previous years, Nicole Samsom operated Massage by Nicole.

 

The Anola Village Inn

The Village Inn hotel was built by Russell Ruchkall in 1983 on the former site of Weiser's Blacksmith shop, the southwest comer of highways #12 and #15. This provided a new place for people to meet, and it didn't take long for the beverage room to become a popular location for socializing.
All kinds of activities and theme nights continue to take place there such as live bands, pool tournaments, cribbage nights and karaoke.
The restaurant was (and still is) known for its delicious food and hospitality.
In 2007, the Village Inn is known to many locals as a favourite meeting place, due to its friendly country atmosphere and good people, whether in the beverage room or the restaurant. Not to mention that the best jam session around takes place at breakfast time every Friday, courtesy of the young at heart musicians who have shared the gift of music with restau­rant patrons for approximately 3 years now.

 

Lake Trail Convenience

In 1988, Mark and Susan Hnatishin bought the 20 acre site on the north-east comer of highways 15 and 12 to pursue their dream of building a gas bar, con­venience store and car wash to serve the community. Unfortunately, the car wash was not possible because of the fact that the village had no lagoon, and zoning restrictions made it too costly an endeavour, so the car wash never came into existence. What did come was a bright new convenience store and gas bar in July of 1991.
The new store, complete with a postal outlet, offered many items and services for its customers: gas, groceries, lottery tickets, movie rentals, coffee, and a snack counter. The grand opening of the store was held in May of 1992, complete with free balloons and ice cream cones for the kids, free coffee and donuts, and the first 50 ladies on the Saturday and Sunday were treated to a flower. A hot dog lunch was held with proceeds going to the Anola Community Centre, and draws for various prizes were held.
Mark and Susan were fortunate to have their families right beside them from the beginning, contributing to the success of the business. Despite the fact that both Mark's brothers had jobs at CN in Transcona, they took the time to make the venture a family affair. David looked after the bookkeeping, and his partner Barbara Armstrong, who also drove school bus, worked part time hours at the store. Brother Jerry took care of the maintenance and yard, while his wife Donna managed the postal outlet. The children were also known to lend a hand when they could.
Customers were the number one priority for the Hnatishin family. Calendars were printed advertis­ing specials of the month and draws were held for monthly prizes. Patrons were encouraged to fill out comment cards, and for taking the time to do so, were entered to win tickets for two to a dinner theatre in Winnipeg. Customer appreciation specials were offered. A letter commending the excellent service of the staff was received from Petro-Canada in Alberta. Business thrived and a 2 year Anniversary weekend with goodies for all was held in May of 1993. Even Santa stopped at Lake Trail during the holiday season.
In July 1994, a restaurant addition was built on to the convenience store. It was leased to Kelvin and Cathy Black, who called the restaurant Country Bumkins. Just 8 months after opening, the Blacks expanded their operation to include a lounge. Sparky's Town Lounge opened in early March, right next to Country Bumkins.
After 6 years in business, in June of 1997, the Hnatishin family sold the Lake Trail to Anup and Kappal Chhibba. As of 2007, the Chhibbas continue to run the convenience store and Petro-Canada gas bar. In early 2010 a chineese restaurant leased the "Lake Trail Retaurant" for eat in and take out food.

 

 

The Country Clipper

A publication of Choice Graphics, Anola, the first edition of the Country Clipper came to residents in February, 1992. Starting out as four pages, it specialized in advertising for businesses located in our village, as well as Glass, Dugald, Oakbank and Hazelridge. Community events were included, and historical insights followed. The office was once located in the building just west of the Village Inn. In 1999, the Clipper office was moved to Beausejour, a more centralized location within the North Eastman region.
In 2007, it is known as The Clipper Weekly, and has grown to encompass an area stretching from Highway #59 to the Ontario border, with a circulation of 12,000.
Over the years, many private residences have opened up businesses in the Anola area. Some are: Elbar Erectors, Anola Feed and Farm Supply, Anola Carpet, Metrow's Septic Service, Gator Alley Automotive and Anola Towing, Anola Automotive, Anola Custom Collision and Glass, Anola Tire, and let's not forget to mention Pumkins Pastimes, a wonderful antique shop and tea room just east of the village. Go there for what is possibly the best mandarin orange cake on the planet.

Crumb's Transfer

Some of the stores mentioned earlier would not have been able to conduct business as usual had it not been for the Crumb Brothers Transfer service. In 1941, Almanson (Allie) Crumb started hauling cream in a 1938 International truck. Within a year, he and his brother Ernie were transporting livestock and general freight in two 1936 Ford trucks. In 1942, Ernie joined the army, and upon returning in 1945, carried on with business as usual. Sometime along the way, the name of the business was changed simply to Crumb's Transfer. Deliveries were made to Kay's General Store and A. A. & R. Store on a regular basis. During the winter, road conditions could be trying at best, which prompted the brothers to take matters.
Over the years, Crumb's Transfer has contributed much to the community, by hauling essential freight or providing employment.

The Anola Fire Hall

The Anola Fire Hall was built in 1978, on the former site of the Shell bulk fuel station. A newspaper article from 1981 states that a 32 man volunteer force and three trucks were in service. In 2007, roughly 20 volunteers are kept busy fighting fires as well as responding to a wide range of emergency calls in the RM of Springfield. Prior to the implementation of the 911 network in our area, callers reporting a fire or other catastrophe were required to call the emergency number, which was a party line that would ring in the homes of six different families. Someone would answer the call, take down the pertinent information, and the fire fighters would be dispatched. The 911 network was established throughout the area in approximately 2003.
Of interest is the fact that at times, people reported fires to the Anola Building Centre, knowing that firefighters Carl and Garth Cook (who own the store) would come to their rescue.

 

The Anola Post Office

There is a rich history of mail service in the district which dates back to 1883, prior to the formation of our village. Because the Anola Post Office recognized these years before the post office was actually moved to the village in 1921, its Centennial Celebration took place in 1983. A newspaper article written in honour of the centennial by E. Perry states: "December 1, 1983 marked the official! 00 year of mail service in the Anola area or, more accurately, the south eastern part of the RM of Springfield.
With that said the history of the post office in the allotted time frame of this book begins in 1907, and the founding of our village. Mr. M.H. Holloway was postmaster of what was called the Richland Post Office. He looked after the mail for residents of Free Port and surrounding area up until 1913 when Mr. George Moorehouse began operating the post office from his home 3 miles south of Anola (SW 24-1 0-6E). An article written by E. Perry in 1983 explains early mail delivery: "In the beginning and for many years mail was picked up in Winnipeg at the old General Post Office. Those early mail carriers did their job on foot or by horseback and horse-drawn conveyances. Eventually they obtained cars and somehow managed to overcome mud bogs and snowdrifts to get mail through. It wasn't what specific time the mail arrived but the fact that it did arrive at all. Those early mail carriers prided themselves on getting that mail through no matter what the obstacles were."
At first, mail delivery was once a week to the various small post offices located in peoples' homes here and there on the prairie. It was later changed to twice a week. Considering the distance the carriers needed to cover and the modes of transportation to choose from, twice a week is impressive.
One of the first 'mailmen' to deliver the mail to Anola and beyond was Mr. William Hemmings. He and his wife Polly came from Manchester, England and after a brief stay in Winnipeg settled on 36-10-7E.
Mr. Hemmings started his mail delivery by use of horses, but eventually bought a Model T, complete with brass headlamps. Upon his approach to each post office home, he would announce his arrival by blowing into the bugle that he carried. E. Perry: "Of course that bugle just didn't herald the mail but it also invited the locals to a social gathering. Those early post offices were a kind of social centrethat helped neighbours keep in touch with each other."
Mr. Hemmings' trusty bugle was forever silenced on December 8, 1924 when a CNR Transcontinental passenger train collided with him at a crossing near hishome. He was 74.

 

In 1921 the Richland post office was relocated to the Bugyik store, where it assumed the name of the village, and the Anola Post Office was born; thus making Mr. Bugyik its first postmaster.
When the store was sold to the Halabiski family in 1944, Ann Halabiski took over duties as postmistress. Ann's son Bob remembers the mail being brought in by train, with the bags often being tossed or kicked off while the train was moving. This practice nodoubt spelled disaster for anything fragile that was sent through, and it was quite common to find mail scattered up and down the tracks near drop off sites. Outgoing mail was packed in a mail sack and hung precariously on the end of an arm that stuck out far enough so as to be snatched by a long metal hook, which was held by some poor soul on board the train as it sped by. Of course the times when the train did have a stop to make in the village, the pick-up and delivery of the mail was a much less nail-biting event.
Mail which had been distributed from various post offices such as Ostenfeld, Vivian and Dundee were eventually handled through Anola; either picked up at the post office or delivered by the mail carrier. For 36 years, Ralph Kitkowski was the mail carrier for the Anola post office and the area it encompassed, bringing mail to hundreds of single boxes on each delivery, as group sites were not introduced until later years. In times when travelling to the store was not always possible, people on his route would sometimes call and ask him to pick up milk or bread for them, which he gladly delivered along with their mail. When he retired in 1983, Jim Hughes took over as the carrier and is still going strong in 2007.

 

Source: Anola Past and Present, Compiled by Mary DeJong