MEMORIES of iconic Mount Gambier businessmen Caleb Fidler and Samuel Webb will be brought back to life in an immersive history showcase this October thanks to the dedication of two local historians.
Over the past two years, Margaret Brown and Aileen Clarke have travelled through time to recapture the lives of the two men famous throughout the region for the creation of the Fidler and Webb shopping complex on Commercial Street.
Described as a “one stop shop” for many families for 150 years, the business sadly closed its doors for the final time around seven years ago.
However, those shopping memories will soon be rekindled in an exhibition that is sure to spark a few interesting conversations.
“When the business closed, the Mount Gambier History Group was lucky enough to receive a large collection of records from the store,” Ms Clarke said.
“There are so many books that have been sitting on the shelves for ages that are full of interesting information, so we thought it was about time we shared that with the public.”
Growing up in Yahl, Ms Brown has fond memories of the store from her childhood and is eager to share with the wider public just how influential these two men were to the community.
“Both Caleb and Samuel were in Mount Gambier pretty much when it was formed,” she said.
“They were very community-minded people always involving themselves in the local government and we think it is about time they were recognised for their contribution to the community.
“It is a real coincidence the building will soon be re-established – we started planning this exhibition years ago and obviously had no idea that
was going to happen.”
Ms Brown and Ms Clarke aim to take the community on a journey throughout the two men’s lives, right back to when they lived in England.
“Aileen has done a lot of research on both Fidler and Webb and the business – we know everything down to how much the employees were getting paid,” Mr Brown said.
“They also kept a record of everything that was sold each day – it has been really interesting reading through the books and seeing things that we thought would be worth a lot only sold for a shilling.
“It will be a real comparison between then and now and I think lots of people will find that interesting.”
The pair has gone out of their way to collect ample items to share with the community, including interviewing a number of former employees of the business.
“It sounded like a great place to work, most employees stayed there for between 30 to 50 years and many described it as a little community of its own,” Ms Brown said.
“Some of the former employees have even donated photographs from their time with Fidler and Webb, including ones from social events.
“During the ’80s they had a very active social group with a netball and tennis team.”
Hoping the community will hold on to the memories of their time at the Fidler and Webb business, Ms Brown said it will not be an ordinary exhibition.
“It is not just all old books, we want the community to have fun,” she said.
The Fidler and Webb exhibition will take place from October 15 to 27 at the Main Corner Complex on the Kings Floor and balcony.
It will be open from 10am to 4pm on weekdays, 10am to 8pm on the weekend and 10am to 8pm on October 19.
