12. The Gigantic Hand Saw, Guardian Pharmacy

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The Gigantic Hand Saw, Guardian Pharmacy – 103 River St

Long before this building became a pharmacy, it was one of Sunderland’s hardware stores. Dean Rundle owned the property by 1905, and the business was later operated by his son, T. A. Rundle, and his wife Vera.

By 1924, the Rundles carried a complete line of hardware, including tools, carpentry supplies and household goods. They also sold farm implements, which were stored in a separate building east of the store.

The hardware store advertised itself with one of Sunderland’s most distinctive business signs—a gigantic hand saw mounted above the main entrance. The words “T. A. Rundle Hardware” were painted across the blade. The unusual sign survived long after the hardware business disappeared and is now preserved at the Sunderland Museum.

The Rundle family lived in a house adjacent to the store. T. A. and Vera Rundle raised their children Irene, Alex and Jean there. When Rundle eventually closed the business, his remaining farm implements and supplies were sold to Ross Doble.

In 1948, the building was sold to Roy Bagg, who continued operating a hardware store here and was still in business in 1959. The building later stood unused for several years.

Mike Sheridan acquired the property in 1973 and opened Sunderland Pharmacy, restoring full pharmacy service to the community after an absence of approximately ten years. An important customer was the Sunnydale Home for Children, then operating from the former Brock House Hotel. Having a local pharmacy provided the provincial facility with convenient access to medications and medical supplies while also providing significant business for the new pharmacy.

In 1989, Sunderland Pharmacy was purchased by a group of pharmacists from Uxbridge. The building has continued its long association with retail service to the Sunderland community.