Fred Krug: An early Tavistock entrepreneur who shaped a growing community

The F. Krug block in Tavistock, home to the Glasgow Warehouse and later the Western Bank of Canada and the post office. Fred Krug’s landmark building stood as a symbol of the community’s early commercial growth. Contributed photo

By Gary West

Tavistock has been home to many pioneering business owners whose efforts helped build the community residents know today. Among the most influential was Fred Krug, founder of the Glasgow Warehouse and one of the town’s earliest and most successful mercantile entrepreneurs.

Thanks to historical records published by the Tavistock Mail in September 1979 and material preserved through Ken at The Maples Home For Seniors, the story of Krug’s remarkable life continues to shine.

Krug was born in Gartaw, Hanover Province, Germany, in 1843. Like many immigrant families of the era, the Krugs faced the hardships of pioneer life after settling in Berlin, Ont. – known today as Kitchener. His formal schooling was brief. By his early teens, he was working at the Bauernfreund newspaper in Waterloo, learning the trade under editor Jacob Teuscher.

The apprenticeship was demanding. Krug wrote, edited and delivered the paper, often on horseback, navigating rough roads and winter storms to reach rural subscribers. The experience built his physical endurance and shaped the discipline and work ethic that defined his later business success.

In January 1860, Krug left the printing trade and moved to Tavistock – then called Inkerman – where he worked as a clerk in Jacob Wagner’s log store. A decade later, in 1870, he struck out on his own. Two years after that, he formed a partnership with Adam Falk, operating a growing general store until 1884, when Krug assumed full ownership.

From that point forward, the Glasgow Warehouse became one of Western Ontario’s most prominent mercantile operations, employing 20 people at its height. Krug personally guided the business as it expanded into a modern department store with separate, well-stocked divisions – each run as if it were its own enterprise.

A shrewd buyer, Krug was known as one of the region’s largest importers. He paid cash for major shipments to secure substantial discounts, which he passed on to customers. He purchased sugar by the carload and imported raw Rio coffee directly from Brazil, roasting and selling it locally. His approach earned both loyalty and admiration from rural residents who relied on the store for quality goods at fair prices.

Krug’s influence reached beyond business. In 1885, he was appointed Tavistock’s postmaster and later constructed a handsome commercial block that housed the Western Bank of Canada and the post office. He remained actively involved in municipal affairs, supporting improvements and community development throughout the late 1800s.

His contribution to the town’s early economic and civic growth cannot be overstated. Tavistock’s emergence as a thriving rural community owes much to entrepreneurs like Krug, whose vision, hard work and commitment to service shaped its foundation.