The Era of Sharp Dressed Men

Randy and Russell Boulton May 1966

In the world of online shopping, parents of today might wish for the days when you could run uptown for a new shirt rather than wash the soiled one, stitch the ripped one, or get a bigger size for the outgrown one.  Actually, since kids have closets and drawers full of clothes, maybe not. I'm thinking of the days of "Sunday Best" like the Boulton boys are posing in out by the car.  They were likely off to Sunday supper with relatives or hosting a houseful themselves. 

Parents in the 1960’s in Reston had that option at Bea’s Style Shoppe owned by Beatrice Donald. The store operated in the south side of the Berry Block on 4th street from about 1964 to 1971. It was a "ready to wear" shop rather than made to order, as had been traditional. Bea's husband John had died suddenly in 1957 and she had been hairdressing in her home on 338 - 3rd Street in Reston from 1956 to 1962. She saw an opportunity to sell ladies and children's wear and set up shop in the former home of E.H. Berry after his death in 1963.

Clipping from Reston Recorder 2006

Edward Hanlan Berry first came to Reston from Ontario in 1898 on the harvest gangs.  He went back east and returned with his bride Bertha (Davis) and set up a jewelers. The Berry Block was built in 1906 of frame construction and was later faced with brick in 1914. Reston was booming with the construction of the Reston-Wolseley branch railway.  Ten children of Bertha and Edward were born and shared their home with the retail shop.  E. H. bought the Manitoba Hardware and Lumber Store down the street in 1924 and moved his jewelry and watch business there. 

Watches were important to the railway men and having top quality was vital. Checking and repairs were part of his business as well as checking the clocks in the train station daily for accuracy.  E.H. received a annual free pass on the C.P.R. for performing this duty daily.  Fletch Manning's article from the March 2006 Reston Recorder tells the former retail shop was made into the family dining room where many happy meals were shared. Renters occupied some of the nine upstairs rooms and over the years as well. 

In 1964, their son Edison Berry converted the former home to apartments and Bea's Style Shoppe was created where the jewelers originally operated. His son Larry Berry was landlord for many years until 2007 when Bryce Campbell bought it and renamed it Main Street Inn & Suites. The suites have been updated and modernized and the historic building recently became the home of Reston Chiropractic Centre and Dr. Shannon Gervin D.C. The building looks great for 115 years old.

I'm unsure if any other business ran out of this space after Bea closed in 1971 but would be glad to hear from any of my readers with further information, memories or pictures. ssimms@escape.ca