A wood frame building on the main street at Vista, in the Municipality of Rossburn, was constructed in 1907. Operated as a general store successively by Julius Gourdeau, George Sinclair, and the Lazaruk brothers, in 1950 it was taken over by Richard “Dick” Baker and his wife Margaret Joan Baker, who ran it for the next 60 years. In addition to selling groceries, the store hosted a post office, gas pump, and bus depot. The couple and their two children lived in an attachment to the building's rear.
The store closed in January 2010. Dick Baker died in June 2011 and Joan Baker died in October 2023.
Baker’s General Store (February 2008)
Source: George Penner
Baker’s General Store (March 2016)
Source: Robert Galston
Rear view of Baker’s General Store (August 2020)
Source: Rose Kuzina
Living quarters of Baker’s General Store (August 2020)
Source: Rose KuzinaSite Location (lat/long): N50.62101, W100.71800
denoted by symbol on the map above
Vista Tales ... from Islay School District No. 733 in Vista, Manitoba, compiled and edited by Gerald R. Brown, 2006.
“Century of post office service comes to an end,” South Mountain Press, 15 January 2010, page 9.
“In the neighborhood,” Crossroads This Week [Shoal Lake], 17 June 2011, page 13.
Obituary [Joan Baker], Memories Chapel.
We thank Robert Galston, George Penner, and Rose Kuzina for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 3 May 2024
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