Boug’s of Byron – Memories of a Village Icon
Ernest Oliver Aubrey Boug was born in 1903 in London, Ontario. As a man who never seemed to sit still, Ernie dedicated his life to family, entrepreneurship and helping to make our city a better place. Ernie’s parents, Frederick and Alice, owned a grocery store when, in 1910, Frederick passed away, leaving Ernie to quit school after Grade 3 and work to contribute to the family. In the late 20s, he and his brother, Roy, opened the Boug’s Brothers grocers at 59 Wharncliffe Rd (at the corner of Riverside). Groceries were home-delivered by their fleet of two vehicles. They continued to expand and introduced a tropical fish exporting business run out of the basement.
Other companies in this building include Gray’s Coffee Shop, Bank of Montreal, Martin’s Bakery, Nurse’s Barbershop and Orr Dry Cleaners. Another building, which would house doctors and
a dentist’s office, was also constructed to the south of this building. Boug Realty continued building and constructed an apartment building on the corner of Ridout and Carfrae. A young Tom Jory was interested in helping Ernie build, although it’s suspected that he was trying to gain the good graces of his future father-in-law. Ernie and Mae’s daughter, Patricia, and Tom were high school sweethearts and married in 1955. Tom and Pat attended the University of Western Ontario (UWO) together in 1947. Tom would later become a well-respected doctor of general surgery in practice for over 40 years.
When Boug’s of Byron opened its doors for business in 1946, Ernie was there greeting his new clientele. He worked in the store every day for 27 years alongside Jim Campbell, the Boug’s butcher. Jim’s wife, Helen, was one of the cashiers. The other cashier was Helen Scandrett. Jimmy Farish and the Scotsman were also well-loved employees as were many others. There are many fond memories from childhood: Jim was known to give out a tasty treat with a wink to regular patrons and bones to the neighbourhood beagle, Bradley. Suckers were also handed out to the polite children. Ernie was always a kind and happy face in the store. He was also sympathetic to hard times and would often extend credit to the community when needed.
In April of 1937, London experienced the most destructive flood ever recorded on the Thames River, resulting from a significant rainfall bursting the banks and flooding many low-lying areas of the city. Boug’s Brothers Grocers was among the businesses and homes destroyed.
Ernie married Mae Reid and had a daughter, Patricia, in 1930 and a son, William in 1933. He built his family home at 398 Riverside Drive and soon after the flood, eyed the land that was located at the corners of Boler and Commissioners with the ambition to open a grocery store to serve the residents of the area. He started a business called Boug Realty and purchased the property in Byron. By 1947, he had built the two-story location that housed Boug Realty at the back and Boug’s Grocery store facing Boler Road. Apartments were built above the businesses.
Mae and Ernie with Pat and Bill, 1936
Page 10 Byron Villager July/Aug 2025
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