Our Story

When he was ready to retire in 1900, John passed the business over to two of his sons, Albert and Aaron (Orrin). Soon to be known as Schnurr Bros., the young men carried on the business in their father’s footsteps – making and repairing footwear while selling a diverse and extensive line of groceries and dry goods. Until the arrival of a rail line to Linwood in 1906 supplies were brought by wagon or stagecoach from the nearest railway station at St. Jacob’s. 

For nine years Albert and Aaron operated the store in the frame building that had been in use since the 1870s. Then in 1909 the brothers undertook an ambitious venture. They purchased a partially completed building on the lot east of their original store. The incomplete structure had a stone foundation and brick exterior. Finishing touches took over a year but in January of 1911 they moved into the store that Schnurr’s Grocery has occupied since then.

Schnurr Bros. partnership dissolved in June of 1912. After his brother’s departure Aaron (Orrin) continued to operate the store, rebranding the business as ‘A. O. Schnurr’. During Orrin’s years as sole proprietor he weathered the first world war, the roaring twenties and the Depression. His only son, Grant (born in 1913) naturally became a part of the family’s grocery business, starting right after he graduated from high school in the early 1930s. When war service called, elderly Orrin kept the store going while son Grant served in the R.C.A.F. in Halifax from 1943 to 1945.

After his father’s death in 1962, Grant Schnurr assumed the role of proprietor, eventually renaming the business G.M. Schnurr. During the 1970s and 1980s the customer base changed. Supermarkets in larger urban centres attracted more shoppers from small towns and there were times that Grant wondered how long the business could last. Nevertheless other changes were afoot around the same time.  In the 1970s many Linwood area farms were increasingly being sold to families who used horse and buggies for travel and who tended to support stores and services that were close to home. This developing customer base, along with many remaining long time customers helped establish a continuing need for stores and services in Linwood.

If you ask people who grew up in Linwood in the 1970s and 1980s what they remember most about Grant Schnurr the answer will often be “Grant standing at the candy counter”. This special glass fronted case could only be opened from the back. As small children mulled over their choice of penny candy, Grant patiently waited as if they were making the largest purchase of the day.

Grant and Leavea’s two children were both assured of a steady after school job during the 1980s and eventually Don Schnurr joined the work force full time after completing university. He would be the 4th generation to operate the grocery store.