In 1939 Roy O’Brien opened the doors of O’Brien’s Music at 278 Water Street in downtown St. John’s. Newfoundland was still its own country, Roy and his wife Nellie waved their national pride high, becoming one of the first retailers of Newfoundland and Irish music. The store quickly became the biggest seller of accordions in Canada when Newfoundland joined confederation. Roy and Nellie raised six children in their home upstairs from the store, which had become a magnet for music-lovers.
