Fletcher Brothers
Fletcher Brothers, the well-known music dealers of Victoria and other towns in the province of British Columbia, are successfully continuing a business which was established by their father nearly forty years ago, and which is a pioneer firm of its kind in the province. Their establishment is complete, and the great variety of instruments and musical goods of all kinds are reasonably priced and can be relied upon to be as represented. Pianos and organs of the highest grades are kept in stock, besides all kinds of stringed instruments, mechanical playing devices, graphophones, phonographs, a large stock of music, and everything in the musical line may be obtained from their stock or by quick order from the supply centers. The brothers are experienced business men, and have been trained from youth to this line of business, so that their ample success is justified and their trade of the broadest proportions.
Fletcher Brothers firm is composed of George A., James H. and Thomas C. Fletcher. Their father, Thomas W. Fletcher, was born in Sheffield, England, in 1839. He came out to Victoria in 1862, thence went to Cariboo country, where he was married to Miss Martha Kelly, a native of Scotland. For a time he engaged in mining in the Cariboo region, and also kept a store and dealt in miners' supplies. After three years, however, he returned to Victoria, in 1865, and established the music house which is now under the management of his sons. He devoted his whole time to the business and gradually extended its operations and developed it into the principal music house of the province. He was a Methodist in religion, while his wife was a Presbyterian. They have five children, all born in Victoria. The good mother died in 1893, but the father still survives and resides at Ladysmith, being retired from active duties and being among the respected pioneers of the province.
The eldest son, George A., is the senior member of the firm. He was born in Barkerville, Cariboo, in 1872, and is in charge of the branch stores of the firm at Ladysmith and Nanaimo. James H. Fletcher was born in Victoria in 1874, and is manager of the Victoria store, which is the headquarters of the business. Thomas C. Fletcher was born in Victoria in 1877, and is the travelling salesman and piano tuner for the firm. William R. Fletcher, born in Victoria in 1880, is a conductor on the E. & N. Railroad. The brothers were all educated in Victoria and the three eldest were brought up in the music house of their father and have known the business from boyhood. They are all justly proud of the land of their birth and take a deep interest in its prosperity. James H. Fletcher, who kindly furnished the material for this article, is a member of the Sons of Scotland, the Native Sons of British Columbia, and of the Foresters.
R. E. Gosnell, A History of British Columbia, (Vancouver, B. C.: Lewis Publishing Co., 1906). pp. 347-348.