Memories of May Francis Heath-- A series
May
Heath- Businesswoman
Ferry Store about 1920
For a girl who had to delay her education
to help support an impoverished family, May was a hard worker and thrived in
the business arena. She one wrote "When asked if I had a hobby, I replied
"Yes I have two, Business and Writing, both of which I really love"
"In 1917, I moved the Heath Shop (Now
the Ferry Store) across the river and had a wonderful lucrative summer business
for six years- Mr. Heath having the Boat Business across the river on the
village side. " The Commercial Record of June 7,
1917 reported "A concession has been opened in the Heath boat house at the
west side of the ferry landing". May's little account book shows the
opening of "The Little Handy Shop" on June 1st, and her
first day sales were $1.80. First year sales totaled- $1856. That year the shop
closed on Sept. 16th. In October it was reported that August Pfaff
had completed an addition "to Mrs. D. A. Heath's store in
May writes "We sold out in 1920 and
opened a Real Estate office and we had a most successful business for 25 years-
selling the town over and over again" until the death of her husband Doc 1947.
She apparently did not slow down after
that, for on her birthday in 1949, she wrote that she was "ambitious (?crazy) to sell real estate" and that she was
"working on my 3rd sale this year- pretty good for an old woman of
76" .