The 1940's
The early 1940's saw Frank go off to war working as an airframe mechanic.
In 1946, after returning from World War Two, Frank moved to North
Bay Ontario to be near his elderly mother and to start building furniture
again. With a shop in North Bay and a Highway #11 display just south
in Callander Ontario his unique furniture gained recognition and word
spread.
As demand increased, the need to move became more apparent. Frank
knew more cottagers were south, so in 1948 he moved down the highway
to Severn Bridge where Highway #11 crosses the Severn River. To start
he needed a workshop so he rented a barn as a temporary workshop and
began making the furniture, all of it to order, as it still is to
this day. This barn, as the photo shows, was by the side of the Severn
River, and it was at this point in time the name of the business became
Pioneer Handcraft. To display his designs he placed them on a covered
trailer by the side of the highway for all to see. Pioneer Handcraft
had truly begun.
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