W.F.C.A.
The Wairarapa Farmers Co-operative Association was founded by Myer Caselberg who set up his first business in Featherston in 1865. In 1892 it became a registered company with it’s head office in Masterton. In its heyday W.F.C.A. had branch shops in Wellington, Featherston, Martinborough, Greytown, Carterton, Eketahuna, Pahiatua Dannevirk and a bulk store at Tinui
Construction of the brick and fero cement Martinborough store commenced in 1906 and the grand opening held on February 23rd 1907. The branch manager being Mr A Lawson.
Early staff included H Madson, Bill McNally, Frank Kelly, Frank Turley Ray Thomas and Tom Grant. The W.F.C. A. must have been a good employer as staff served long terms; Reg Fiest fifty one years, Ted Finlay forty one years, Claude Moore seventeen years and Ian Henderson twenty one years plus time with Wrightsons when that firm took over.
Along with grocery and hardware the shop was divided into men’s, women’s clothing and a boot and shoe departments. Out the back were the grain stores and there was a petrol pump on the corner of the building. Along with the in store trade the company also canvassed for orders and delivered in country areas.
In 1960 W.F.C.A. merged with Wright Stephenson and Co to trade under the Wrightson’s banner. Nine years later a further merger saw the name change to Haywrights. The Martinborough store was closed in 1972 with the remaining staff offered positions in other branches.
The Greytown clothing manufacturers Bouzaid and Ballabin then took over the building for clothing manufacturing. Whne this ceased the building stood empty for some time before being taken over by the current owners, Winemakers services in the late 1990s.
