The Northern holds a place in the foundation of the Northern region of
British Columbia. Not only is the store a recognized cornerstone of
Prince George, it's a landmark. Opened in 1919, only four years after
the City of Prince George was incorporated, Alex Moffat and partner
Frank Whitmore bought out the Northern Lumber Company and renamed it the
now famous "The Northern".
During the 1920s, most of Alex and
Frank's customers were loggers, prospectors, and homesteaders arriving
to settle the region. With such a diverse clientele, Alex and Frank
established an inventory of building, farming, and in-home supplies
which is still honoured to this day. When the store first opened, there
was so much growth in the region that a second location was opened up in
the Wells area in the mid-20s.
A varied and large inventory
helped The Northern survive the Great Depression in the 30s, along with
the help of a small gold rush in the Cariboo during that time. Business
didn't exactly boom during this economic dry spell, but the store
developed a reputation for customer service above and beyond what other
stores could offer. From cashing pay cheques to extending credit, The
Northern etched out a unique position in the economic development of the
region, and the Province.
Despite a fire in the main store on
Boxing Day 1933, The Northern managed to grow and evolve when other
businesses faltered. In fact, growth was strong enough to require a move
to a new location at Third Avenue and George Street (1934), then
another to Third Avenue and Quebec Street two years later.
The
40s were also a challenge. The Second World War had a mixed effect on
The Northern. Troops and work crews stationed in Prince George kept the
store hopping, but both locations felt the strain of heavy taxes imposed
by the Government's War Effort. When the war finally ended, Alex and
Frank sold the Wells location and began construction on a new building
adjacent to the store's operational location. Moving to the corner of
Third Avenue and Brunswick Street would turn out to be a huge success:
The Northern occupies 1386 Third Avenue to this day.
By 1946,
Frank Whitmore had sold his share of the business to Alex Moffat, who
arranged for his son Harold and the company's Secretary-Treasurer,
Thompson Ogg, to take on a partnership role. As the years passed, The
Northern became more and more a family business. By 1949, Alex's sons
(Donn, Gilbert [Corky], Earl, John and Keith) were partners along with
another employee named Hilliard Clare. Eventually, The Northern included
all the Moffat children; in 1951, Betty, Alice and Joyce (Alex's
daughters) became equal partners. Just a short four years later, Alex
chose to retire, leaving The Northern in the capable hands of his
children.
The Northern continued to expand under the direction
of the next generation of Moffats. In 1956, the top-floor apartments
were vacated and renovated to accommodate the evolving and growing
business. A customer parking lot was paved in 1957?the first paved lot
in Prince George. When Alex passed away in 1963, his son Harold became
company president.
Under Harold's direction, The Northern
expanded further with the purchase of the neighbouring Five & Dime
store in 1965. And growth continued. It was during the 70s that Harold
opened AMCO, a subsidiary wholesale company, a few blocks away on
Queensway Avenue. To this day, both AMCO and the Northern Appliance
Centre are located there.
Harold's political ambitions
ultimately placed him in the office of Mayor of Prince George from 1970
to 1979, so his brothers took over much of business at The Northern and
the sister companies. Harold spent his mornings at the store, his
afternoons at City Hall, and his evenings raising his beloved
Standardbred horses.
A model of family business, The Northern
has been passed on from one generation of Moffats to the next. When
Harold eventually retired, that tradition was upheld.
Today, The
Northern continues to thrive under the direction of a third generation
of Moffats, and members of the fourth generation are presently employed
there. The Northern is now managed by Harold's son, Ted, and
grand-nephews, Blair, and Ian Moffat. Several members of the Moffat clan
have established careers within the family business, upholding the
friendly values set forward by the older generation. One notable
employee and former partner is Hilliard Clare, who started at The
Northern in 1945. Mr. Clare holds the position of Secretary-Treasurer,
and provides a prominent and active role in operations.