Levy Earle Joan

Article by Adam Brazeau
Seaway News
November 21, 2013

Cornwall - An artist and author with local ties signed copies of her 11th book, which explores the history of Cornwall's downtown business area.

Joan Levy Earle shared the details of her new book, The Legacy of C.W. Kyte. with dozens of readers at Coles Book Store. It all started from an idea at Riley's Bakery, A decade later, Earle explored the rich history of the Kyte's and downtown Pitt Street.

"It was exciting to do the research," said Earle. "I now have a little bit of Cornwall history that was a part of my life, and it's in book form for people to enjoy."

The Kyte's Stationers store opened on April 27, 1889, and more than a century later, its story is being told. Earle, and her husband Jack, bought the store in 1988, and renamed it Sanctuary on Pitt Street.

"It was a very exciting time for us, we really didn't understand what we were buying. It was a book store, but we had a basement full of treasures," said Earle.

The deep impact of the Kyte's and Sanctuary was, obvious as numerous people approached her to discuss cherished Pitt Street memories.

Tom Todd picked up a copy of the book, with his daughter Madison, to support a "local author" that helped his own writing career. "I would go into her store and ask for advice," said Todd. "She helped me edit two of my books, I enjoyed it there, it was like going
into an old general store," He remembered shopping at Sanctuary for writing supplies as early as the '90s,