3.+Cannon's+Grocery+Store

It was in 1926 that the building became the memorable Cannon’s Grocery Store, and it remained the welcoming, family- owned business for roughly 50 years. John Cannon, the head of the family and the original owner of Cannon’s, successfully ran the store with his family up until his death in 1942, at which time his daughter Ida proceeded to take over the business. //Ida Cannon, prominent member of the Cannon Family of Medina, Ohio, poses next to the counter inside their families popular Grocery Store. Beside her stands the expansive counter where she sold an assortment of goods to the residents of Medina. Some town favorites included her famous cheese and molasses. (1) //  It was from 1942 up until closing day in the 1970s that Ida Cannon continued to run her family’s grocery store alone, and in the process she became a huge iconic figure throughout Medina during that time period. People can still remember her glasses perched upon her nose as she made pleasant small talk and bagged all of their groceries by hand, tying a colorful ribbon around each bag for a personal touch. Another recollection of long time Medina residents is the huge block of cheese Ida had sitting on the counter, which would look more aged and molded each time they came in for more groceries. Perhaps the most comical memory residents have of Cannon’s Grocery is of the delivery boys racing the old “Cannonball” up and down the city streets, which was Ida’s 1930s station wagon she used to make special home deliveries.  //This photograph, titled// Sorghum, anyone? //depicts Ida Cannon where she felt most at home: behind the counter tending to customers. She is surrounded by just a small portion of the goods the store had to offer, including cheese, Jell-O, and of course, sorghum. Ida sold only the best sorghum, a cereal crop frown for food and animal feed, imported straight from Kentucky. (2)//

Between these special home deliveries and Ida’s prominence as a historic figure in the town of Medina, it is no surprise that Cannon’s Grocery was able to set itself apart from the competition. It was able to beautifully preserve its 1900 village store feel throughout the years, not giving into the harsh lightening and long cash register lines of the other modern day stores. So, as mass production began in the 1920s, bringing with it a mass culture and numerous chain stores and products, Cannon’s Grocery was able to promote business in the Medina Square while successfully preserving the Square’s culture and authentic vibe. //Taking over for her deceased father, Ida Cannon was able to keep up with the hustle of the business world. She spent her life in that store, and decided early on to continue exactly how her father had started. Here, she is seen behind the counter, doing what she does best. A backdrop of the assorted goods sold encircles her. (3)//

Perhaps the event that most demonstrates this is the day Ida held a Cannon’s Grocery auction, where she auctioned off original furniture and other store items upon the store’s closing day. The items were fiercely bid on and sold at high prices, which truly represented what Cannon’s Grocery meant to the Medina Square and the town itself. Therefore, Cannon’s Grocery will always be remembered as the shop around the corner that put a smile on your face, leaving Medina residents with great memories and an entertaining dose of Medina history. //**(Above, left)** As Cannon's Grocery went out of business, the auctioning off of merchandise was a large-scale event in the town. Harold Farnsworth coddles the crowd as they pick and choose between the various items. (4)// //**(Above, right)** A sign to lure in the many shoppers of MedinaCounty as the ever popular Cannon's Grocery store goes out of business. Auctioned off was a various assortment of merchandise. (5)//

**//Interview with Pam Miller regarding Cannon's Grocery Store://** media type="youtube" key="HoNDPxhfld0?hl=en" height="344" width="425" align="center"

//The Cannon’s grocery store was a very popular place for the populace of Medina during its up bringing, and even today people still know of the grocery store and the personality of the store’s owner Ida Cannon. The above interview is of what Pam Miller remembers of the Cannon’s grocery store and a couple of pieces from the grocery store that still remain in the Gramercy Gallery.//