The Munroe House came into being in the early 1900s. Alex Munroe had been to the Klondike Gold rush in 1898 and on his return he purchased the land and built a store. His home was located where the Marion Bridge Consolidated School stood. At a later date (around 1906), he added the main house to the store building. The house was bustling place. Mr. Munroe handled not only the store, but was a pit prop contractor supplying wood to the Dominion Coal Company and employed men (sometimes 8-10) to work in the woods, who stayed at the Munroe House. The store kept the house a very active place as many came by horse and wagon and sleigh by winter from long distances. The kitchen table was always full as the Munroes served at no cost to folks who had come to the store from long distances. The store had an entrance by the Main Road and probably measured 20×24 with a back room.

There were 2 counters on the North side of the store and the main one with the cash box, scale, and string for tying parcels, sugar, milk, cornmeal, and many other things.

They had to weigh or wrap it. Molasses came in puncheons measured out by quart or gallon.

The Munroes had running water in the house, which was supplied from a water tank with a 500 gallon wooden tank located in a high work building that was close to the house. A gasoline pump was in the basement of the house and that pumped the water to the tank which had free flow into the bathroom and the rest of the house.

It was a meeting place for most people in the village every evening, especially in winter. People gathered for the news of the day or to talk politics or tell stories. The young people would play cards at the kitchen table; Rummy 500 was the game at that time (1920s/1930s).

Munroe had 3 boys and 2 girls (one died very young). Effie MacCuish turned the living room into a hospital as she had her appendix removed in the front room by Dr. Kendall, who was a country doctor.

Munroes were the owners until approx. 1931. At that time it was sold to the Mira and District Adult Recreation who carried on a senior’s place of dinners, dances, skits, concerts, and anything to entertain. They established an auction and beef BBQ, which was carried on July 1st each year. The beef dinner was a highlight. Inside the house were a flea market, home cooking and new merchandise for sale. This carried on throughout the years…..