Packard & Shafer: Local Business Leaders Step Up in Time of Need

Joe’s Confectionery Steps In to Help the Cowlishaws

In the days following the devastating 1953 fire that destroyed the Cowlishaw home, community generosity was everywhere—and Joe Shafer of Joe’s Confectionery was among the first to act.

On the Sunday afternoon after the fire, Joe Shafer and fellow merchant Lynn Packard personally took the Cowlishaw family shopping for new clothes. They purchased everything through Joe’s own store, ensuring the family had what they needed immediately. The two men “split” the cost themselves, refusing to let the burden fall on the struggling widow and her children.

Lynn & Jean Packard

It was a simple act, but one that spoke volumes about the character of these local business owners. In a moment when the Cowlishaws had lost everything, Joe Shafer and Lynn Packard made sure they could face the coming days with dignity, warmth, and the comfort of knowing their neighbors cared.