Bob Hoggarth and his wife Louise, a school teacher started at their original location 54 Government Road West. Affectionately known as “Mr. Bob”, he was previously the Manger of a local lumber store. Opening a business during this time was a challenge. Supplies were limited due to World War II and the population was declining because the price of gold had sagged. The store sold paint, wallpaper, c
oal and dynamite. Bob and Louise were very active in the community. Bob was a member of the Kiwanis Club, Milk Drive, Red Cross and Boy Scouts. As chair of the Crippled Children Committee, he worked many hours developing Northwood Camp. They had three children, Bob Jr., Mary and Eileen. All worked at the store after school and on weekends. Weighing and packaging bags of gyproc filler to syphoning paint thinner from forty five gallon drums, they all grew up realizing the success of the family run business was customer service. Mary, while at school in Toronto training to become a nurse, met and married Gerry O’Connor. When Bob passed away in 1950, Louise and Bob Jr. ran the business until 1954 when Louise asked Gerry to manage the store. The young couple re-located to Kirkland Lake. In 1962 they purchased the business. Much like the community, Hoggarth Interiors evolved and diversified, they no longer sold coal and dynamite, Mary and Gerry added more interior products such as flooring, window covering and hobbies, becoming a complete decorating centre. Both Mary and Gerry held the philosophy that you should give back to your community. Somehow finding time between raising six children, they both dedicated numerous hours and days to school boards, municipal council and various service clubs. In 1980, with their son Sean working in the trade in southern Ontario, Mary and Gerry made the same call to him they received thirty years earlier. Sean moved back to Kirkland Lake to manage Hoggarth Interiors. The business has evolved to become somewhat more than a family-owned paint and wallpaper store. With their team of trained sales associates, decorators, designers and qualified installers, Hoggarth Interiors also supplies and installs products in many commercial projects within their region.
