BUSINESSES

Some of the early store keepers in Wilbur were Wilbur Grimm, Alex Stewart, Cap and Porter Doak and Bill Waters.  Also Levia and Arch Stewart operated a small store at the foot of the Wilbur hill.  Most of these stores operated for relatively short periods of time.

In 1919, Kersey Doak (Cap's son) and Borman Pierson  purchased the store that had been owned by Cap,  and they operated it for the next 57 years.  They sold it in 1976, and it was closed shortly thereafter.  It is this store  that appears in its present condition on the home page of this site.

In the early 1900's, there were two stores on opposite sides of the road. One of these became Doak & Pierson and the other became a tavern and gasoline station that was operated for many years by Avery Doak (the brother of Kersey.) The gas station sold ESSO gasoline in the 1950's and 60's.  The Shady Lane Tavern (Wilbur beer-joint) was well known in surrounding towns and was the scene of much activity and excitement,  which is best left unrecorded here, but in later years it was very quiet with only a few local customers.   It was in operation until poor health caused Avery to close it in 1978.

There was also a barber shop that was operated out of a room of the Doak & Pierson store.  Mart Pratt was the barber in the 1930' and 1940's, then John Ash  barbered there into the 1950's or 1960's.

Other businesses were more transitory and consisted of salesmen for Watkins Products, the GRIT newspaper, greeting cards, and various and sundry items.

At the present time the only business operating in Wilbur is a salvage yard. 

 

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