Mill’s Block

Alex Mills opened his store in 1880, offering an impressive variety of goods for the growing community. Advertisements from the time proudly declared that he carried dry goods, furs, groceries, men’s and boys’ clothing, boots and shoes, grain and hay, with a special focus on ladies’ jackets and dress fabrics. Dressmaking in the latest fashionable styles was also offered, making the store a popular destination for local families.

The business later passed to R. P. Mills before being sold to Ernie Bimm, who rebranded it as Bimm’s Red & White—a name fondly remembered by many in Eganville. Ownership changed hands again when W. H. Liebig purchased the store, followed by Gerry Dagenais. In more recent years, it became known as Eganville Freshmart, continuing its long tradition as a community grocery.

The building itself faced its share of hardship, having been destroyed by fire twice—first in 1880 and again in the great fire of 1911. Each time, it was rebuilt, a reflection of both the resilience of its owners and the community’s reliance on the business.

From its origins as a dry goods and dressmaking store to its present role as Freshmart, the site of Alex Mills’ store has remained a fixture in village life for well over a century.