As Welcome as the Flowers on Mockingbird Hill

This autumn marks an important anniversary for a well-known Sault Ste. Marie landmark, Mockingbird Hill Pioneer Farm. The Landslide Road farm has been a long-standing fixture in Sault Ste. Marie for decades, known for its picturesque sights, historical buildings and the infamous goat walks. Just as famous in Sault Ste. Marie as the farm itself is the owner, Robert Cuerrier, fondly referred to for the past few decades as Farmer Bob.

Interior of Ogidaki Mountain, 1974. Collection of the Sault Museum.

One of Robert’s first businesses in the late 1960s was building log cabins, a venture he described to the Sault Star in 1976 as “A novel method of starving”. Building kept him busy during the summer, and he would take on supply teaching gigs in the winter months. After the completion and sale of several, and realizing that teaching wasn't what he wanted to do, he and his wife Sue used their 15,000 dollar profit to fund their first retail venture in Sault Ste. Marie; Ogidaki Mountain General Store.

Opened in 1974, Ogidaki’s was designed as an old-time general store, selling antiques, huaraches shoes and other leather goods, namely bags and purses. Robert bought the building at 131 Bruce Street in dilapidated condition and brought it back to life through renovations he carried out himself.  The clothing aspect of their shop quickly expanded and Ogidaki’s name became synonymous with the denim craze of the 1970s. Arguably the first independent jeans store in the Sault, the Cuerrier’s brought in brands like Levis, HASH, Cream, Howrick, Roadrunners, Wranglers and Brittania. Unsure of how the business would be received, they were surprised that Ogidaki’s, the business they started from “almost nothing”, was an overnight success.

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Robert Cuerrier in front of a denim rack in Ogidaki, 1976. Collection of the Sault Museum

The brand they cultivated was laid back; they offered an atmosphere that was unlike anything else in Sault Ste. Marie at the time. Ogidaki provided unique shopping experiences for their customers, from offering free apples on Saturdays, carved wooden gift certificates and late shopping hours (open until 9 PM!). Even Ogidaki’s print advertising was unique, leaning into the use of illustrations and borders, creative tag lines and sale names. This was a practice carried through to the Cuerrier’s other businesses throughout the 1970s/1980s.

Ogidaki advert, Sault Star 1976

Ogidaki advert, Sault Star 1975

The success of Ogidaki Mountain led to the opening of a second shop, Calico Silver, in early 1975. The womenswear boutique opened in the same block on Bruce Street alongside Ogidaki at 125 Bruce. The focus of Calico Silver was the high-end market, selling fashionable brands like Laura Ashley, one of only five stores in Ontario to carry the designer, alongside brands such as Lou Myles, Inka Knits, Ports International, and the popular Fragments line by Harriet Selwyn, a clothing system where every garment was “one size fits all”.

Calico Silver advert, Sault Star 1976

Much of the clothing that Calico Silver carried in their early years was heavily inspired by Edwardian and Victorian styles, as well as the 1930s silhouette, the height of fashion in the mid-1970s. The inside of the shop reflected these influences as well. A mammoth six-foot-wide antique armoire graced the inside of the Calico Silver shop, accenting the large wooden beams and antique mirrors. Calico Silver eventually adapted to the working woman demographic, selling suits to formal wear and everything in between, a move made to highlight the newest addition to the Cuerrier’s retail portfolio; Wildflowers.

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Modelling Laura Ashley, 1975. Collection of the Sault Museum

Sue Cuerrier in Wildflowers, 1975. Collection of the Sault Museum

Wildflowers winter sale, 1976

Wildflowers opened less than a year later, this time located at 610 Queen Street across from Windsor Park. With Wildflowers, the Cuerrier’s again branched out to another demographic, this time targeting the younger market of high school age girls to the “career woman”. Fashionable denim, disco clothing and the "Annie Hall" look were sold at Wildflowers. Manager Heather Whyte stated in a 1978 Sault Star article that the concept of Wildflowers was to “Change lines often and carry whatever is hottest on the market”, which is exactly what they did. Hottest on the market in 1978? Vests and ties, Heather said.

Although Wildflowers was successful at its 610 Queen location, Robert Cuerrier had bigger plans. In 1978, he purchased the former East Street Hardware building; the Dawson Block, at the corner of Queen and East. The location had been vacant for more than a year at the time he purchased it. Prior to the L.A.C.A.C. research and heritage designation in 1985, Robert Cuerrier recognized the historical importance of the building and was thrilled to restore it, stripping walls and restoring the features to their original condition, where possible. He called the move “expansionary” and felt that Wildflowers would thrive in a location that “reflected the atmosphere of the store”.

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Robert Cuerrier refurbishing the Dawson Block, 1978. Collection of the Sault Museum

Autumn fashion show at the Windsor Park, 1970s.

Robert Cuerrier had a stronghold on the retail business. All three shops participated in fashion shows at the Windsor Park, Ramada Inn, the Water Tower Inn and the various golf clubs. With Wildflowers, they showcased youthful looks to the high schools and sponsored fundraising fashion shows. Calico Silver would get their employees as well as talent from the Judy Mitchell models to show their clothing. These fashion shows also featured men’s clothing from stores like Davis or Art Gabriels. Ogidaki Mountain often had their men’s clothing modelled by members of the Soo Greyhounds, in exchange for free denim. A regret of Robert’s was turning down a “skinny kid” to model jeans for his store, a kid who turned out to be a then 17-year-old Wayne Gretzky.

In early 1979, Calico Silver shut its doors after having a Last Waltz sale. Robert moved his Ogidaki Mountain store into Calico Silver’s former location and moved all of the Calico Silver merchandise onto sale racks at Wildflowers. The move to Ogidaki’s No. 2 included an extensive renovation of the former Calico Silver building, with Cuerrier even adding a skylight to the store.
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For the Cuerrier’s, business was good. Their success in business was largely due to their love for community engagement and cultivating a welcoming environment in their stores.

​They regularly sponsored disco events and fashion shows in the Sault, often held at the discotheque Tiffany’s. The first Disco/fashion show featured Trixie Hardy Dancers modelling the latest disco fashions from Wildflowers in 1976, the brainchild of WIldflowers manager Heather Whyte. In the the later 1970s, they introduced Breezin’, the Disco Dance Championship and fashion show, a partnership with CKCY and the Ramada Inn. The largest disco competition in Northern Ontario, the winner would be flown to New York and visit the famed nightclub Studio 54, and receive a new Wildflowers/Ogidaki wardrobe to the tune of $1000. In addition to their involvement in the disco community, each year Ogidaki Mountain and Wildflowers would combine their efforts for Bon Soo and host the Great Northern Lights. The Great Northern Lights was an event that would see their stores open until midnight with sales, drinks, snacks, casino style games and prizes to draw customers in.

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Robert and Sue Cuerrier, 1983. Collection of the Sault Museum.

.In the early 1980s, the businesses took an unfortunate turn. High interest rates and rising overhead costs eventually led to the closure of both Ogidaki’s and Wildflowers in 1983. When asked about the store’s position in January of 1983, Robert told the Sault Star “We drifted along nicely for nine years. Then, in the last 18 months or so we've had the financial underpinnings kicked out from under us”.

The remaining store stock was sold off, as were all of the fixtures in both Wildflowers and Ogidaki’s (including the antique armoire). He stated that he was going out of business the same way that he went in, “with an old pickup truck, some tools and not much else”. Although disillusioned with Queenstown and their lack of support of his previous ventures, he did say if he ever opened another venture, it would still be in Sault Ste. Marie, and that he was grateful for his loyal customers and for the experiences the businesses provided. An obituary was posted for the now-defunct businesses in the Sault Star and a “wake” was held.

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Ogidaki Mountain and WIldflowers obituary, Sault Star 1983

Robert Cuerrier was a man of his word; his next business was opened in Sault Ste. Marie. This venture proved to be the longest-lasting of all: Mockingbird Hill Pioneer Farm.

Robert and Sue opened Mockingbird Hill Pioneer Farm in 1984, designed as an old-fashioned 19th-century homesteading ranch. Mockingbird Farm was not far off from his vision for Ogidaki’s old-fashioned general store, harking back to the past. Even the name Mockingbird Hill came from days gone by, pulled from the 1950 song made popular by Patti Page. In addition to growing and selling vegetables and tapping maple syrup, the Cuerrier’s offered horse-drawn sleigh/wagon rides through the 70-plus acre Landslide Road property. Eventually, Robert expanded his venture to include the Christmas tree farm and an ever-popular corn maze. Robert’s maternal grandfather lived on a farm in the Ottawa Valley and he spent almost every summer there until his grandfather’s passing “coiling hay, mucking out barns”; this wasn’t his first rodeo.

Moving the Mother of God Church to Mockingbird Hill Farm, 1987. Collection of the Sault Museum.

In July of 1987, the Cuerrier’s saved the old Goulias Mother of God Church from demolition by having it moved to the Mockingbird Farm property. The 1930s clipboard church had been used as a place for teen programming and then a storage shed from the time the new church had been built in the 1960s. The steeple was removed and used as a well cover at Stokely Creek, but the owner agreed to its return after learning of Robert’s plan to have the church moved and restored. Using a flatbed truck, back roads and a fair amount of man-power to remove and then reinstall the roof, the church was safely moved to Mockingbird Hill Farm.

In 1990, Robert played an integral part in relocating yet another building to Mockingbird Hill Farm. The Buchan log house, dated some point around 1884, was moved from its original location on Carpin Beach Road near the Little Carp River to escape demolition when the City expropriated the land. The Buchan house was identified as being the only remaining squared log house in the Sault Ste. Marie area, noted in a L.A.C.A.C. report completed by D. Perry Short in 1972. After years of inaction on the property, the integrity of the building was compromised by vandals and neglect. Robert, working with the Heritage Committee, stepped in and offered to have the original portion of the building moved to his property, a feat accomplished in the summer of 1990. Mockingbird Farm was approved as a location based on its similarities to the original land where the Buchan house stood. A bylaw was put in place by the city to protect the Buchan House in 1991 through the direction of D. Perry Short. Robert and a crew of others worked tirelessly to restore the house, which still stands on the property today.

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Buchan House on Mockingbird Hill Farm, 1990s. Collection of the Sault Museum.

 In the mid 1990s, a great amount of grief and financial pressure was caused by the Sault Conservation Authority and the Province of Ontario regarding the renewal of Cuerrier’s lease agreement for the land. The Cuerrier’s owned around 3 acres of the farm, and had an agreement with the Authority to lease the additional acreage. They had put a decade of their time and hundreds of thousands of dollars into developing the farm. Reneging on the original agreement put the farm, and the Cuerrier’s hard work, in jeopardy.  They sold their Queen Street property (The Dawson Block that housed Sue Cuerrier’s Kiva restaurant in the early 90s and previously housed Wildflowers) to manage their legal fees on top of their usual operating expenses. Eventually, the unfortunate circumstances were chalked up to a misunderstanding as the province was under the impression that Mockingbird was a massive commercial enterprise versus a small historical demonstration farm. A new lease was signed with the same terms as the original lease, allowing Mockingbird Hill Farm to continue on. Over the years, the Cuerrier’s had a few more run-ins with the Conservation Authority, but nothing unresolvable. As of 2022, the Mockingbird lease has been extended

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Keeping with the Cuerrier’s love of community involvement, Mockingbird Hill Farm has hosted many events over the years. Artisan shows and sales for different local groups, a yearly live nativity scene at Christmas using animals from the farm, bluegrass and other music festivals, a theatre performance of Charlotte’s Web by the Sault Youth Theatre, many musical acts and more touring school groups than Robert could count. The corn maze designs got more ambitious over the years, and the farm was busiest during pumpkin and Christmas tree season.

In the blink of an eye, it was 2021. Robert announced his semi-retirement at age 74, due to his age, some health issues, grey hair (amongst other things). It did seem, however, that he didn’t retire as much as shift his focus elsewhere. He has written two books about his life and experiences (Canadian Bushwacker and De Big Shot Train), still works on the farm, and spends as much time as possible with his family and grandkids. Mockingbird is busy with weddings and rentals of the Goulais Church and the Buchan house, even if he has scaled back other aspects of the farm. He’s also picked up syrup making again (abit as a hobby, not a full-fledged production).

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November 2024 marks 40 years of Mockingbird Hill Pioneer Farm, something Robert referred to as a “pipe dream” around the ten-year anniversary of opening it. It is a place that houses our physical heritage in the form of the historical buildings and practices housed within, but it has also become part of the fabric of our community.  A place for memories of days gone by, but also a space that allows us as a community to make new memories, too. Robert has always been big on tradition, so it seems fitting that forty years later, generations of families have grown up visiting the Cuerrier farm.

Little did he know in 1984 that his quiet hobby farm named after that idyllic little tune would become such an iconic place in our city

Tra-la-la, tweedlee
There’s peace and goodwill
You’re welcome as the flowers on Mockingbird Hill