The beanery at Lambton yard was a small wooden shack right next to the yard office that was open around-the-clock to serve yard employees and train crews with small orders of hot food and drinks. It was referred to as "The Beanery" or "The Blindman's" because it was connected with the CNIB. There were only about half a dozen seats at the counter and no tables in this small shack. It wasn't the cleanest place either, of course someone who was blind couldn't see bugs or little creatures running around! Cold pop in a sealed glass bottle was my favourite purchase!

One other popular item I recall many men buying was "Two for Five" matches. These were wooden matches in a small cardboard box made by Eddy Match and sold for 3 cents each or, two boxes for five cents!

At times someone needing to pay with paper money larger than one dollar would hold up the money for others to see, saying "a five" etc. and someone else would look at it and agree. The blind man would make change accordingly. In the 1950's most purchases could be made with a dollar bill or change. Unfortunately, not all railroaders were honest and occasionally someone would take advantage of the blind man when no one else was present to claim he was giving him a larger denomination bill when it fact it was only one dollar. It takes all kinds, as they say.

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