1999-07-28 Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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a part of the family's up bringing. In the General Store business one of the proprietors biggest jobs is supplying everything that a General Store should carry. Joseph would travel every Saturday to St. Paul for supplies. His children remember this as being a very special time if you were picked to ride with him into the city. Eleanor said that he would shut off the engine at the top of the hill by the sink whole (the hill on Centerville Road just north of Hwy 96 through the swampy area) and coast down. He explained to Eleanor that he was saving on gasoline. Joseph LaMotte was remembered for many services to the residents of Centerville. Listed below will be a few that I am currently aware of although I am sure I will have missed many. Joseph served the community as the City Clerk for 20 years. He was a notary public, St. Genevieve Trustee and when needed a fireman. From serving as a drop stop for Local farms for the Gedney Pickle Factory, to a drop off for your dry cleaning, to applying and receiving your driving license LaMotte's General Store was always there and did it all. One of the many services that Joseph did for his community was to transport the area children to school each day in a horse drawn wagon. In later years they obtained a school bus, which was built by Joseph Rivard. Joseph then drove the school bus, but when the snow was to deep for the school bus Joseph would take out the horse and sled to make certain that the children made it to school. While speaking to family members of Joseph, and to older residents of the community you will hear Joseph LaMotte never said a cross word in his life about anyone. Many families would have been put through very hard times if it hadn't been for this man's kindheartedness. During the great depression the general store and Joseph became a life -link for the entire city. Many families faced not having enough money to buy goods they needed for their families to survive. Joseph and his family would never let any family suffer due to hard times. They would make certain that all families had what they needed and payment could be make when they were able to pay and not before.