SEVENTEEN YEARS SERVICE IN PORT COLBORNE

IS THE RECORD OF THE SHIBLEY FAMILY

Foresight Shown in Early Real Estate Purchases-Also invested in Humberstone and Now Operate Flourishing Concerns in Both Centres

[The Welland-Port Colborne Evening Tribune, 18 November 1931]

Seventeen years ago there moved to Port Colborne from Buffalo a family by the name of Shibley. No one would have said at the time that this family were going to do as much for the building program of the lakeside town as any other family of old standing and wealth, but such was to prove the case. At the beginning of their career in Port Colborne they were not very well known and without any great show and with a great deal of foresight, they bought up some of the strategical and choice building sites of future years. To keep themselves going they set up a couple of confectionery stores, one on the east side of the canal and another in the old Schooley building which was later wiped out by fire.

The east side store was in the area now a part of the new Welland Ship canal. The family all helped in the stores and by skillful handling of funds they have gradually increased their places of business and opportunities. The family later went in for real estate, investing on a larger scale and bought up considerable property that was taken up by the new canal. One of these properties was the Commercial hotel of old time fame and renown. However, anticipating the growth in the western part of the town, they bought up several desirable building sites there, one of which was the site of the present postoffice.

Always Proud of Port

Joseph Shibley stated that the family has always been proud of Port Colborne and its steady growth ever since they decided to make the town the scene of their attempts in business and that it was their desire to add their contribution to the growth of the municipality and to improve the beauty of its streets. Whatever money they had made through fortunate investments they have spent in improving other locations to the betterment of the town as a whole. He said that of late people were appreciating their efforts and now their business was such that they were able to sell wholesale and retail buying direct from the factory in large quantities.

The Shibley family have not kept their investments and building program to Port Colborne only, but in recent years have built in Humberstone and also bought up considerable throughout the township. At the present time they have one of the finest stores in Humberstone in the middle of the village’s business section where it is in contact with all tourist traffic.

Operate Many Stores

Job F. Shibley, the father of this prosperous family, has five sons and one daughter, all but one of whom are still with him in business. The other son, Anthony, has branched out for himself and now has his own shop on Clarence street, Port Colborne, and his family own the new modern building on the corner of Clarence and King streets, directly west of the postoffice. One of the other sons, Joseph, is now manager of his father’s business. Besides their confectionery stores, they run an up-to-date taxi service. If conditions are favorable they may open a restaurant also in the near future. With the addition now of their new store on Clarence street, this family will own several of the finer-type business blocks in town.

One of the family traits has always been to give the best of service and they are still carrying on this and hope to do so for a long time to come. They also hope to be able to continue their plan of improvement in the future so that the buildings of Port Colborne will rank with those of any other town of its size and population anywhere. Mr. Shibley stated that he had great confidence in the town and its industries and also in the Welland Ship Canal Industrial Area commission. “We pay much to the town in taxes and so we want to see the town on the map,” Mr. Shibley said. “With the erection of the new store, we are keeping our plans of advancement moving and in its style we are also keeping up with the times regarding beauty.”

[Related EVENT: NEW SHIBLEY BUILDING ON CLARENCE STREET]