Who We Are
The E.J. Cram general store in Green's Harbour, Trinity Bay, was established in 1884 by Ebenezer John Cram
when he moved to Green's Harbour from Old Perlican. Cram moved to Green's Harbour to become involved in the sawmill business
because there was a lot of timber in the area at the time.
He had just finished building a home for his wife, Sarah Suzanna (Maddock) of Carbonear, and their five children when fire destroyed their home and they barely escaped with their lives. They lost all of their personal belongings and the next day they drove to Carbonear by horse and carriage in their night clothes.
Cram lost all of his financial assets in the fire except the accounts owed him by his customers. The records of these accounts were also lost. Cram was determined to continue in business and, with the assistance of James Baird and Co. Ltd., he set up once again. This time he decided to discontinue the sawmill but he continued his involvement in the fishery, the general retail store and coastal trading in schooners. By the early 1930s Cram, with the help of his son Stephen, had paid off all the debts incurred at the time of the fire. Among the schooners which he and his son operated were the Bellow, the Mayflower, the Phoenix, the Mildred and the Alice C.
Ebenezer John died in May, 1940, one month before his 84th birthday and the business was carried on by his son who guided it through the war years and the changes brought about by confederation in 1949. Then, without warning, Stephen died in March, 1956, at the age of 59. The business was then passed on to his son, Stephen Maxwell, who was attending Mount Allison University in New Brunswick at the time.
When Stephen Maxwell returned home he received a great deal of assistance from his mother, Miriam Estella (Taylor) Cram, who had helped her husband and was familiar with the business. Her interest in its success continued until her death in October, 1983.
Stephen Maxwell, who is known as Mackie, maintained the retail store but also became involved in house repairs and construction work. In 1976, misfortune struck again and the store was destroyed by fire. However, like his grandfather, Stephen Maxwell carried on and renovated his lumber warehouse, turning it into a store, which he still operates. Stephen Maxwell's son, who is named after his father, is expected to become the fourth generation owner and operator when his father retires.
He had just finished building a home for his wife, Sarah Suzanna (Maddock) of Carbonear, and their five children when fire destroyed their home and they barely escaped with their lives. They lost all of their personal belongings and the next day they drove to Carbonear by horse and carriage in their night clothes.
Cram lost all of his financial assets in the fire except the accounts owed him by his customers. The records of these accounts were also lost. Cram was determined to continue in business and, with the assistance of James Baird and Co. Ltd., he set up once again. This time he decided to discontinue the sawmill but he continued his involvement in the fishery, the general retail store and coastal trading in schooners. By the early 1930s Cram, with the help of his son Stephen, had paid off all the debts incurred at the time of the fire. Among the schooners which he and his son operated were the Bellow, the Mayflower, the Phoenix, the Mildred and the Alice C.
Ebenezer John died in May, 1940, one month before his 84th birthday and the business was carried on by his son who guided it through the war years and the changes brought about by confederation in 1949. Then, without warning, Stephen died in March, 1956, at the age of 59. The business was then passed on to his son, Stephen Maxwell, who was attending Mount Allison University in New Brunswick at the time.
When Stephen Maxwell returned home he received a great deal of assistance from his mother, Miriam Estella (Taylor) Cram, who had helped her husband and was familiar with the business. Her interest in its success continued until her death in October, 1983.
Stephen Maxwell, who is known as Mackie, maintained the retail store but also became involved in house repairs and construction work. In 1976, misfortune struck again and the store was destroyed by fire. However, like his grandfather, Stephen Maxwell carried on and renovated his lumber warehouse, turning it into a store, which he still operates. Stephen Maxwell's son, who is named after his father, is expected to become the fourth generation owner and operator when his father retires.