Material Type

Photograph

Date Range

23 November 1939

Description Level

Item

Creator

de Jourdan's Studio Ltd.

Physical Description

Black and white negative

Physical Condition

Excellent

History Biographical

Andrew Mihalik came to the United States from his native Slovakia in 1912. He worked in the coal mines of Pennsylvania for a year, then moved to Lethbridge in 1913 and worked as a pit boss in the coal mines here. On 10 November 1913 Andrew Mihalik married Katherine Hudak in Lethbridge. Katherine came from the same community in Slovakia as Andrew but arrived in Lethbridge in January 1911, one year before her husband. The couple established their home at 716 12 Street C North, and had five children: Joseph, George (Blondie), Edward, Mary and Katie. About 1928, Andrew Mihalik opened a grocery store at 640-642 13 Street North. The store became an anchor of the 13 Street North business district. Andrew retired from the business in 1965 and was succeeded by his son George. George Mihalik owned and operated the business until 2 June 1986, with the exception of the years 1966 to 1971, when IGA owned the store and George worked as the manager. On 2 June 1986 new owner Dave Green changed the name of the store to Green’s Mayfair Foods, and Mihalik family’s involvement in the business ended. On 4 May 1959 Katherine Mihalik died. Andrew remarried, and he and his second wife Annie had a daughter Helen who died in 1984. The family continued to live at 716 12 Street C North. Andrew Mihalik was a founding member of St. Peter and St. Paul’s Greek Catholic Church, and he and his first and second wives were members of the Canadian Slovak Benefit Society. Mr. Mihalik also served for many years on the board of Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Separate Regional Division No. 4. Andrew Mihalik died on 21 July 1981, and his second wife Annie died on 9 October 1991. Andrew, Katherine and Annie Mihalik are all buried in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Lethbridge.

Scope and Content

Interior of Mihalik's Grocery Store, 640-642 13 Street North in Lethbridge.

Access Restrictions

Public Access

Accession No.

199110004310

Collection

Archive

Less detail