Sunday screening of ‘Towns End’ at Showplace to benefit fire victims

Documentary tells tale of historic PG Towns & Sons General Store, destroyed in February fire

By kawarthaNOW -
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Megan Murphy is hosting a screening of her documentary 'Towns End', which tells the story of the PG Towns and Sons General Store in Douro, on March 18, 2018 at Showplace Performance Centre in Peterborough. The screening will raise funds for the owners of Towns and Leahy Mercantile and Deli, which opened in the location in 2017 only to be destroyed by a fire on February 2, 2018.
Megan Murphy is hosting a screening of her documentary 'Towns End', which tells the story of the PG Towns and Sons General Store in Douro, on March 18, 2018 at Showplace Performance Centre in Peterborough. The screening will raise funds for the owners of Towns and Leahy Mercantile and Deli, which opened in the location in 2017 only to be destroyed by a fire on February 2, 2018.

While it’s for a good cause, the irony is almost too much to bear.

On Sunday, March 18th at 2 p.m., filmmaker Megan Murphy is hosting a special benefit screening of her short documentary Towns End at Showplace Performance Centre.

Megan’s 2017 documentary tells the story of PG Towns & Sons General Store in Douro, which was operated by four generations of the Towns family before economic conditions forced it to close in September 2016.

When Megan first screened the documentary at Showplace on May 18, 2017, the event also included a celebration. Nancy Towns, along with Bernard and Lise Leahy, announced they were opening a new store — Towns and Leahy Mercantile and Deli — in the former PG Towns & Sons General Store, bringing new life to the landmark location.

Towns and Leahy Mercantile and Deli, operated by Nancy Towns and Bernard and Lise Leahy, reopening in the historic building last year. (Photo: Towns and Leahy Mercantile and Deli / Facebook)
Towns and Leahy Mercantile and Deli, operated by Nancy Towns and Bernard and Lise Leahy, reopening in the historic building last year. (Photo: Towns and Leahy Mercantile and Deli / Facebook)

Then, on February 2, 2018, a tragic overnight fire destroyed Towns and Leahy Mercantile and Deli, bringing to an end the store’s 125 year history.

Tickets for the March 18th screening are $20, with all proceeds going to the victims of the fire. You can order advance tickets at the Showplace box office ((290 George St. N., Peterborough), by phone at 705-742-7469, or online at showplace.org.

A short reception will follow the screening in the Nexicom Studio.

An early morning fire on February 2, 2018 destroyed Towns and Leahy Mercantile and Deli in the historic PG Towns and Sons General Store in Douro. (Photo: Harrison Perkins / Facebook)
An early morning fire on February 2, 2018 destroyed Towns and Leahy Mercantile and Deli in the historic PG Towns and Sons General Store in Douro. (Photo: Harrison Perkins / Facebook)

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