TIMES PAST: Main Street store closes

An end of an era was observed on June 29, 1996, when the town’s oldest retail store closed its doors. W.H. Killay and Co. Inc. at 437 Main St., Athol, was once Longley and Killay back in the 1920s. The stationery store opened in the 1800s under the proprietorship of E.E. Cleveland, passing on to Guy Cleveland in 1904. Just prior to World War I, Longley formed a partnership with William H. Killay. When Longley died in the early 1930s, the Killay family became sole owners for three generations. Owner Mark Killay cited a 40 percent drop in business since Walmart opened the past October as the reason. FILE/ATHOL DAILY NEWS