Outstanding Citizen
Lost
In Death of H. S. Falls
One
of the most prominent and valued citizens of Simcoe and Norfolk County
over a long period of years, one of the foremost retail business men of
Southern Ontario, Mr. Harvey S. Falls passed away at his residence, 96
Talbot St. North, on Tuesday afternoon, 1 Oct 1940, after a lingering
illness.
In his 81st year,
he was a native of Simcoe and had made his home here throughout his
lifetime. As the proprietor of the Falls Department Store for 45 years
his name was a household word in Norfolk County and far beyond its
confines.
He came by his
penchant for mercantile life honestly as his father was one of Simcoe's
pioneer merchants. He was the third son of Owen H. Falls, Esq. and
Lucinda Finch.
Receiving
his education in Simcoe public and high schools, he became apprenticed
to Oscar Hendry in the dry goods
business as a lad of 17 years.
From
that time onward, for a period of 50 years, he had been prominently
identified with the business life of Simcoe, until in February, 1937,
fire destroyed his magnificent creation, the Falls Department Store,
resulting in his retirement from active business life.
In
1891 the firm of Northway & Anderson acquired the retail store
formerly conducted by Ritchie, Ford & Company, and later by George
J. McKiee, located at the northwest corner of Norfolk and Robinson
Streets. In December of the same year H. S. Falls became a partner in
the firm and afterwards proprietor of the store.
By
1912 the Falls Company had outgrown the capacity of the building and Mr.
Falls erected the new three-storey department store which for the
ensuing 25 years occupied the northeast corner of the main intersection
of Simcoe.
At that time
Simcoe had a population of considerably less than 4,000 and it must have
required courage and vision to undertake such an expansion. But Mr.
Falls was always a firm believer in the future of his native town and he
entertained no apprehension on that score.
In
the 25 years that elapsed from the store's inception to the time of its
destruction by fire, the Falls Department Store had made notable
progress. Its clientele included not only the people of Norfolk but
those of the neighboring counties of Haldimand and Elgin, as well as
residents of many other parts of the Ontario.
Certainly
the foresight of the store's founder was completely justified and the
retail business activity of the town as a whole benefited to a great
extent by the success of the Falls store.
Mr.
Falls always attributed the success of his company to a steadfast
adherence to the policy of giving service and of selling only quality
goods. "The customer is always right" was a rigid slogan with
him and he always insisted upon unfailing courtesy on the part of his
staff, with the result that customers always found it a real pleasure to
shop at Falls'.
H. S.
Falls did not confine his efforts solely to his mercantile interests. He
devoted no small share of his time and ability to the furtherance of
community projects.
He
was a charter member of the Norfolk Golf and Country Club. He was a
charter member and served nearly 15 years on the Board of Governors of
Norfolk General Hospital. He was a charter member and at the time of his
death an honorary member of the Simcoe Rotary Club.
The
Canadian Legion Branch 79 conferred an honorary membership upon him tin
recognition of his indefatigable efforts in behalf of returned men. He
was honorary president of the Simcoe Business Men's Association, and an
active member of the Norfolk Historical Society.
In
fact, during his lifetime he was associated in one way or another with
virtually every project of a community nature in Simcoe and all
benefited to a great extend by his generosity. It is safe to say that no
philanthropic enterprise has gone unheeded by him during all these years
and certainly he earned the imperishable gratitude of the people of
Simcoe and Norfolk County.
In
his later years Mr. Falls' favorite pastime, in his own phraseology was
"the whipping of trout streams for the speckled boys."
At
one time he was very fond of shooting and he could recall the days about
50 years ago when he shot wild or carrier pigeons south of Simcoe. These
pigeons, which once came in such droves as to darken the sky, have long
since become extinct.
H.
S. Falls was one of a family of three boys and four girls, all of whom
has now passed away. He leaves his widow, formerly Miss Alice Deyell of
Port Hope, who has been his constant and unfailing companion down
through the years.
A nephew is the Hon. Eric W. Cross, Minister of Public Welfare and
Municipal Affairs for Ontario. Other nephews and nieces include: Rev.
Harold Cross of Wiarton; Mrs. Joseph Totton, Reginald German, Harvey S.
German, Owen H. Falls, Mrs. Muriel Apted and Mrs. Florence Smith, all of
Toronto.
The funeral is
being held this (Thursday) afternoon with service at the home at 2
o'clock and interment in Oakwood Cemetery.
