BUSINESS

Although the people of Branch cannot boast about having large malls or chain stores, the local corner stores are efficient in providing for our immediate needs.  The old saying, "From a needle to an anchor", is very much true because the stores have a wide variety of goods.  Within the past few years, however, people have begun to travel to Placentia to do most of their shopping.  Placentia is about 42 miles of paved road from Branch and, because the majority of the residents own automobiles, many people shop there.

 

 

Many tourists flock to our area each year because of the unspoiled beauty of our rolling hills and majestic forests.  One family, because of this , provides accommodation and meals to passing tourists at their bed and breakfast.  The name of this establishment is "Whalen's Hospitality Home" and it is run by Rosemary and Art Whalen.  The tourists are, often, privileged with an evening of music and song because Rosemary is, also, one of the musically inclined "O'Rourke" family members.

Whalen's Hospitality Home:

 

 

Another business establishment is "Windy Meadows Kennels", operated by Thomas and Ernestine (O'Rourke) Power.  This venture involves the breeding and raising of purebreds, such as Golden Retrievers, Australian Sheep Dogs, Border Collies and Shetland Sheep Dogs.  This is the only business of its kind on the Cape Shore area.  Besides being profitable, it is, also, a tourist attraction, as any member of the family is quite willing to show off their beautiful dogs to any interested tourists.

 

    Recently, the raising of foxes for their pelts has become another worth while way of making a living.  Two families, Thomas and Ernestine Power, and Augustine Power, both, supplement their income each year with the sale of pelts to a business establishment in Montreal during the month of December.  They both claim this is a profitable way of earning the few extra dollars in a community where there are a limited number of entrepreneurial ideas.