In the early 1900s, P. (Peter) Murray’s Grocery Store stood at the corner of Ferguson Street and Railway Place, opposite North Williamstown Train Station. Its boarded-up windows and faded signage—advertising Dr. Morse’s Indian Root Pills, a notorious placebo—hinted at a bygone era of commerce.
Peter Murray co-founded the store with fellow grocer David Rodger at 179 Ferguson Street. While Peter’s name graced the façade, it was David who largely ran the business before becoming its sole owner. Peter, meanwhile, expanded his ventures, operating another grocery store in Nelson Place, which thrived. This success enabled him to build his grand family home, ‘Craigdoon,’ on The Strand (1876–77). He later expanded his grocery business into a more prominent location on the corner of Nelson Place and Thompson Street, where he introduced wine and spirits. He ran this enterprise until his passing in 1913 at age 74.
David Rodger, after growing his own enterprises, retired in 1891 and passed away in 1902. His store was eventually taken over by Owens, Son & Co., timber merchants supplying firewood, metalwork, and some grocery staples. In 1928, the site was redeveloped into the Owens’ Building, with Owens, Son & Co. operating from the rear until closing in the late 1940s. Today, the historic Owens’ Building, opposite North Williamstown Train Station, is home to bustling small businesses and cafés, continuing its legacy of commerce.
