10/19/2024
Where does the name “Stella’s Coffee Co.” come from? It’s not my middle name, nickname, or puppy’s name, although I have been asked all of those in the past few weeks! There’s a little write-up and dedication wall in the coffee shop, but if you haven’t made it in yet to see it in person then this post is for you!
Stella Fee, born Stella Findlay, is the name of my great-great-grandma. Her husband, Albert Edward, built this very building, as well as the flower shop next door. For over 100 years the building fronts have read “Fee and Sons” as a tribute to Albert, Stella, and their sons.
Standing alongside the previous four generations of men have been some very strong women, Stella included. As the fifth generation member of the Fee family to work in this space, I thought it was only fitting to pay my respects to those women that came before me. And thus the name “Stella’s Coffee Co.” was decided upon.
Stella, as I have recently learned, was a pretty cool lady. She was born in 1878 and was the youngest of seven children. Her parents were quite progressive for the time, which meant that she and her sisters were allowed an education. Stella became a teacher and taught for years. She and Albert married and they had four sons. Stella served on the church women’s group, was chair of the missionary society, active in the women's temperance movement and a life member of the IODE (The Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire). The IODE ran the local library, where Stella helped out for many years. She also supported her husband in business as well as during his time spent as an MLA.
Her grandson, Doug Fee, provided much of the above information along with this quote: “Even in her old age, she was a force to be reckoned with”.
As a tribute to all of the forces to be reckoned with that came before me, I give you Stella’s Coffee Co.
Come on in, you’re family.
(Also, thank you to Paw Prints Custom Picture Framing for framing these photos of Great Great Grandma Stella, as well as a petit point that she made)
