The dazzling Coulter’s showroom that greets customers today is far removed from the humble beginnings that laid the foundation for this family business. In fact, this testament to retail success began as a tiny coal and fuel oil business more than 80 years ago. It was founded in the 1920s by Charles Coulter Senior on Windsor Avenue, and supplied coal as a source of heating for Windsor homes.
Getting a business on its feet was no easy task, but Charles was well-prepared, descending from a long line of those who welcomed challenges. He was the son of James Coulter, and grandson of Alexander, who began life in Ireland and chose teaching as his profession, journeying to Canada to make his home. When he died in 1863, his widow remarried and moved to Colchester North, rearing her son James Coulter.
James became involved with lumber in the process of clearing his farm, as well as that of his stepfather. In 1900, he moved to Essex and added the handling of coal to his lumber business.
Two decades later, with that same dedicated spirit, the coal and fuel business begun by Charles Sr. during the Roaring 20s prospered, and he was later joined by his two sons, Charles (Chuck) and Bill. “I became involved in the business while I was in high school,” recalls Chuck, sitting in the Coulter’s office today. “I always knew I was going to become involved in a business of some kind.
When the war {WWII) was on, the coal business was good. I would walk from Kennedy Collegiate to the business.” In the 1950s, the business diversified to include fuel oil. “After the war, the demand for coal dropped,” recalls Chuck. “So we went into fuel for both residential and commercial uses.” Very quickly, a fleet of coal and fuel oil trucks were seen daily in Windsor serving homeowners’ heating needs. In 1958, in order to supplement the off-season of the heating business, the Coulter’s began to retail home furnishings in a small room next to the main office.
Then, in the 1960s, a flattening out of the coal and fuel oil business was evident but offset by an upswing in the furniture operation. It was then that the Coulter’s realized their future would remain in serving Windsor’s furniture needs. In 1969, the fuel oil business was sold to Texaco Canada. “We could see the fuel business was going down; natural gas was coming on strong,” says Chuck. “We had already started the fireplace equipment sideline business, and were the first to bring barbecues into Windsor from the U.S. So we decided to sell colonial furniture.”