Published in Tackaberry Times, October 2007:
     Jonathan Getty, the person most likely to greet you these days at the Glen Oven Bakery Café on Main Street in Glen Williams, is a good blend of his parents, Doug and Patty, who opened the bakery in 1992. He has Doug’s tall, dark and handsome quietness, with Patty’s lively grin and friendly, outgoing manner. He’s good with names, remembering customers at repeat visits.
     Having received a diploma in chef training from George Brown College, Jonathan is now manager of the bakery. While Doug remains the baker, Jonathan looks after everything, including the daily creation of soup. Red pepper and corn chowder was the offering one day, lentil the next, squash and carrot another. The soups are often vegetarian.
     Green salad, a variety of sandwiches in your choice of bakery breads, sweets from the baker’s display case and cappuccino, hot chocolate or a choice of teas round out the offerings that tempt people to come to Glen Williams. Here’s a secret about their cinnamon brioches: they never make it from the baking sheet to the cooler. They sell out first.
     For Christmas, the Glen Oven bakes cookies, handmade chocolates, Yule logs, which are a 10-year tradition, and breads and rolls. On Christmas Eve they stay open until 4 or 5 p.m.
     “We do 50 dozen rolls that day,” says Doug.
     It’s wise to place an order ahead of time. They close Christmas Day, Boxing Day and two weeks in January. They’re regularly open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wed. to Sat. and Sun 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
     People also flock to Glen Williams for three special shops, Williams Mill, Best’s Harbour and The Beaumont Mill. Together, these three locations must easily represent the offerings of 100 people.
     Williams Mill is a complex of buildings that house the studios of about 30 artists. The property is owned and was restored in the 1980s by Mary Lou and Doug Brock of Georgetown, who took on the challenge of providing space for artists to work and visitors to purchase exceptional, original pieces. The variety is humbling, from jewellery, painting, stone sculptures, quilts, clothing, stained glass to blown glass. There’s a glass-blowing studio where you can see, hear and feel the power that is harnessed to make glass objects.
     The Gallery at the Mill holds different art shows throughout the year. From Oct. 21 to Nov. 11, “Women who Wood” is an exhibition of the wood-fired ceramic work of 12 female artists.
     From the afternoon of Sat. Nov. 17, “Tiny Treasures” is the pre-Christmas show for shoppers seeking unique gifts. This show continues up to Christmas Eve.
     Best’s Harbour, across the street from Glen Oven, has an enchanting outdoor garden room displaying twig furniture, signs, birdhouses, birdbaths, weathervanes and wind chimes. There are some pieces of metal sculpture made of reclaimed rebar, bolts and metal pieces that have been revisioned into whimsical garden ornaments. Those who like simple, beautiful folk art will be in heaven.
     Inside, the folk art is a little more refined, with hand-crafted wood bowls, butter dishes in the shape of boats, and bracelets crafted from silver cutlery being some examples. There are a few illustrated children’s books, one being Bud the Spud by Ballinafad resident Stompin’ Tom Connors. The second storey is a fabric stockroom and studio for classes in traditional Canadian rug hooking classes.
     “We have unique things for Christmas,” points out Carl Best, who owns the shop with his wife Edyepat. “Every item is handmade, one of a kind, Canadian. We always have a big collection of carved wooden Santas from Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Quebec and Ontario.”
     Best’s Harbour is open Wed. through Sun., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. From Dec. 1, they open seven days a week.
     At The Beaumont Mill on the north stretch of Glen Williams’ Main St., the pre-Christmas season is business as usual. Here, 21 vendors share a rambling space that must have something for everyone. There are fossils, antique toys and tools in the basement. The main floor houses an antique furniture showroom and stalls of housewares, collectibles and even a caning shop where Frederick C. Stott repairs reed and rush chairs. Upstairs are vast displays of vintage jewellery, fine china, glassware, paintings by Jeannette Lorito, and a huge selection of vinyl records.
     “There’s nothing like it around,” says manager Peter Arsenault. “Vinyl is coming back with a vengeance.”
     The Beaumont Mill is open year-round, Wed. to Sun., 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., including holidays like New Year’s Day.
     “We offer Christmas past brought to the present,” states Peter. “It’s a unique shopping experience with stuff you won’t find anywhere else.” Indeed, visitors find it difficult to leave without purchasing something.
     Located right at the beginning of Glen Williams’ Main Street, the Copper Kettle Pub is prominently situated between Williams Mill and Best’s Harbour. A British-style pub, it offers such imported beer as Strongbow cider, Kilkenny cream ale, Guinness Stout, Smithwicks ale and London Pride.
     “We’ve been here 20 years,” says owner Brenda Gove. They offer standard British pub food and such specials as curried mango chicken wrap and vegetable lasagna. Some days they may also serve afternoon tea of scones, cream and strawberry jam. Tues. nights from 8 p.m. are “jam” nights of another kind, when musicians perform.
     Although small in size, Glen Williams makes a big impact at Christmas.
By Gloria Hildebrandt
Gloria Hildebrandt writes for magazines and organizations out of Orchard House. She can be reached through www.ohouse.ca.