Picturing the Past

The Gaston family had roots in the grocery business going back to 1905, when Martin Luther Gaston owned a general store in Wheeling, Indiana. Gaston’s IGA Food Liner was originally opened in 1945, as a small neighborhood grocery store and was owned and operated by Dale Gaston. This store was located at the corner of Main and Spruce St. in Princeton, and grew to be the largest and most modern grocery stores in Gibson County.

In the 1970’s, it would be managed and owned by Dale’s brothers William “Wimp” Gaston and Mendel “Kink” Gaston. The 11,500 square feet store at one time employed over 40 people including a large deli and bakery. Many additions and changes through the years included moving the entrance to the East side of the building after adding on to the west part of the lot in 1967. The Gastons also opened a laundromat on the Main Street side of the building where Sam Mart is today.

Two other Gastons, David and Jim Gaston, also had laundromats at 806 East Broadway, and the corner of Embree and West Broadway which offered a car wash. Many teenagers had their first jobs either as check out girls or stock boys at Gaston’s IGA. This was a time when you returned soda bottles for a cash deposit and a young man would carry your groceries out to your car for you.

Mendel “Kink” Gaston passed away on December 23, 1987, and William “Wimp” Gaston died on July 6, 2003. Gaston’s IGA would eventually become part of Buehler’s chain of IGA Grocery Stores.

Terry Ward, local home economist, is show here with Kink and Wimp Gaston in 1975.

Photo Courtesy Princeton Daily Clarion.

Terry Wynd, local home economist, is shown here with “Kink” and “Wimp” Gaston, owners of Gaston’s IGA in 1975.