He’s going to miss the people, the old-timers, but it’s time to take a step back, and there’s a lot of fishing to do.
Pat Ross is retiring after four decades at Century Hardware Ltd., the hardware store on Birch Avenue in 100 Mile House.
Ross started there in 1972. He moved up to the Cariboo from the Lower Mainland to start working in the bush. However, getting up at 2 a.m. every morning wasn’t doing it for him, and he heard they needed someone down at the hardware store. The rest, as he says, is history.
“A lot simpler times back then. When you walked down the street you had to walk with your hand in the air [waving] because everybody knew ya.”
During that time, the 73-year-old has seen a lot of changes at that store, and a lot of changes in 100 Mile House. The best part of the job was the people walking through the doors.
Ross says he’s looking forward to retirement.
“There are a whole bunch of fish out there that have my name on them.”
