Flavelles Limited

Flavelles originated in 1860 with the partnership between J.R. Dundas and Mr. Claxton. They operated a general store on Kent Street in Lindsay, Canada West. In 1872 J.D. Flavelle, a nephew of J.R. Dundas, became a partner when Mr. Claxton retired. In 1877 W. Flavelle joined the business and the business became Dundas & Flavelle Brothers. The company expanded under the Flavelle brothers into the grain market. They acquired the controlling interest in the flour mill near Lindsay Street and called it the Flavelle Milling Company until it sold out to the Canadian Cereal Company in 1912. Around the same time a growing produce business handling eggs, butter, cheese and poultry was developed. A warehouse on King Street was built to store products and eventually branch plants in Port Perry, Belleville, Alliston, Chatham and London were established. Later on a coal and builders' supply department was added to the Lindsay business. The merchandise used in the store was purchased from England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. The first export business in eggs, butter, cheese and poultry occured in 1888 when W. Flavelle, who was a regular member on the British Isles business trips, decided that it was a good idea to ship produce and use the proceeds on future merchandise purchases. In 1895 J.R. Dundas died and his stock was purchased by other partners. In 1900 a provincial charter was obtained under the name of Dundas and Flavelles Ltd. and by 1904, with another charter, the name was changed to Flavelles Ltd. The Victoria Creamery was puchased in 1912. In 1916 the cold storage warehouse on King Street burnt to the ground while it was full of produce. Only the power house, which was in a separate brick building, was saved. A new brick warehouse, which was a cold storage and creamery, was built on the corner of Kent and Victoria Streets in 1917. After 1918 a separate charter in the name of the Lindsay Creamery Limited was obtained and the Flavelle family, who were the controlling shareholders of the business, operated the creamery for a number of years. In 1925 the business was merged with other department stores throughout Ontario and became known as Canadian Department Stores and eventually these stores were taken over by the T. Eaton Company. Flavelles had associations with Hall's Limited of Lindsay and H. R. Scott Limited of Peterborough. (Taken from: Flavelles Limited fonds. 92-003-1.) For photographs of the Sadler, Dundas & Flavelle's Flour Mill, Dundas & Flavelle Bro's store and the Dundas and Flavelle Bro's Egg House see accession 92-010 (Dorothy Choate Herriman fonds) Box 5, Folder 15.