Image from Gillian Gaiser.
A lovely bit of ephemera relating to Deakins’ Central Stores and Jonah Deakin has been sent in by the wonderfully generous Gillian Gaiser, who donated her wonderful writing about the Deakin family to the blog, published last weekend.
There’s clearly a lot of love for the Deakins and that area of Brownhills, which to be fair is critically overlooked historically.
Gillian has sent scans of a centenary celebration and Christmas card sent out by the Deakin family to customers at Christmas 1950: the hand produced nature of the artwork is gorgeous and the message speaks of a vastly different retail age. What a wonderful thing – I’m so grateful to Gillan for sharing it.
While I’m on the subject, what is the Howdles Lane/Deakin Avenue/Whitehorse Road/South Chasewater called? I’ve been struggling with this for ages; previously I’ve said ‘Newtown’, which I’ve been chided for, as that only really starts at the Chase Road Junction.Or does it? So what is this locality called?
Please comment here, or mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com. Thanks.
Gillian wrote:
Hi Bob,
Further to the photo of Central Stores which I sent to you I am attaching jpgs of the Christmas card sent out by my parents/grandparents on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Central Stores which may be of interest.
It says the business started in 1900 however in 1901 at the time of the census Jonah and Jane with son Charles were noted as living on Hednesford Road and Jonah’s occupation is given as Insurance Agent. It could be that The Stores were in the process of being built at the time… who knows?
I doubt there is anyone left now who can give us the full story!
Good wishes from Gill Gaiser
Image from Gillian Gaiser.
Image from Gillian Gaiser.