Those buying an ongoing business often find they have big shoes to fill, but for Vincent Chavers those shoes are not only big but old.

Chavers and his wife Barbara bought Newell Cleaners in July from Helen McArdle.

It was her late husband James McArdle who created a name for the dry cleaning service, which is located in a residential Sharon neighborhood on Griswold Street.

Taking over the business from founder George Newell, McArdle could often be found drumming up business by knocking on homeowners' doors.

Three years ago before his death, National Clothesline magazine, a trade publication, proclaimed McArdle as the oldest living dry cleaner.

"We were all friends,'' Mrs. Chavers said of their relationship with the McArdles. "It was nice she (Mrs. McArdle) turned over the business to us and trusted us to keep it going.''

This is hardly the Chavers' first time in a dry cleaner. After serving a stint in the Army, Chavers worked for a time at the former Richards Dry Cleaners in Farrell while employed at the now-defunct Sharon Steel Corp.

After working part time at Newell's for 15 years, Chavers said he knew this is where he belonged.

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