Remember when Yorkton grocery stores were operated by private individuals?

When the store keepers knew the likes and dislikes of their customers, when grocery orders could be phoned in and delivered by young men on bicycles, when you knew if the produce you ordered was not in excellent condition, the store keeper would not include it in your order?

One such grocer was Gilbert McMinn, whose store was located on the corner of Third Avenue and Broadway Street in the building now occupied by Revolution Skate and Sports.

Mr. McMinn was born at Newry, Northern Ireland, and came to Canada in 1912. During Word War One he served overseas with the Winnipeg Rifles.

In 1919 he married Sarah Colville in Ireland and they returned to Canada in 1920.

In 1921 the McMinns came to Yorkton, where he travelled for a wholesale grocery firm until he opened his own retail store in 1933. He continued in business until he retired in 1946.

Mr. McMinn was a member of the session of St. Andrew's United Church, an elder, and president of the trustees.

He served several years on the public school board and was an honorary member of the Saskatchewan Tuberculosis League. He was a past senior counsellor of the United Commercial Travelers, a member of the Odd Fellows lodge and a member of the Lions Club.

Mr. McMinn died in 1955.

Robert Barbour, born in Ayrshire, Scotland in 1882, came to Winnipeg in 1904 where he obtained employment with the Crescent Creamery.

During his employment with the Creamery he saw the start of opereration of the first cream pasteurizer, and the first brine freezer.

In 1914 he came to Yorkton as manager of the Yorkton branch of the Crescent Creamery and continued to be manager until his death in 1952.

He became president of the Yorkton Board of Trade in 1926.

In 1926 he was elected to city council and remained on council until he was elected mayor. He served as mayor from 1930 to 1932 and again from 1935 to 1938.

He served the community as a member of the collegiate board for five years; acted on the board of stewards of St. Andrew's United Church and was past president of the Horticultural Society.

He was chairman of the Saskatchewan Dairy Manufacturers Association for 18 years and represented Saskatchewan on the National Dairy Council.

During the war he was chairman of the Victory Loan Committee.

Mr. Barbour died in 1952 at the age of 69.

The city named Barbour Avenue as a tribute to his involvement in the affairs of the community.