The Allaire General Store- Celebrating 175 Years of Retailing Goods (Part II)
By Hance M. Sitkus, CPA, Allaire Village, Inc. Treasurer (Interim General Store & Museum Gift Shop Manager)
The General Store during our Holiday Lantern Tours
Today, the Store has returned to being that of a “Museum Store”. A restructuring of the Store’s retail operations began in 2010. As part of this restructuring we’ve re-created the Museum Section with items akin to those sold in the 1830’s. The Chief Clerk’s work area has been re-decorated with Howell Works scrip, ledger books, a cast iron safe, and a “receiving area”. The Post Office and Apothecary shop were also spruced up. The Post Office still opens manually as the “Allaire Village Station” during our Christmas at Allaire events for a special hand cancelling. Bring your mail and Holiday cards!
While you’re visiting the Store, don’t forget to look for the political leaders of the time- Henry Clay and Andrew Jackson! Their pictures are hung on opposite walls due to the numerous disputes they engaged in during their time. And no general store would be complete without an owl keeping a watchful eye over the store. Try to spot our wooden, hand-carved owl the next time you visit!
In addition to shopping for goods from bygone days, your visit to the store is meant to be an educational one! Throughout the store are various historical narratives explaining this such as: how were goods packaged? What forms of payment were accepted? What did the Store Clerk do? How did the Post Office function? Although horses, wagons, and stagecoaches no longer line up in front of the Store, we still have patrons buy our stock, look through the large front windows, and pass through the Store’s massive interior brick archways. It truly is a step back in time!
We continue to add to our Allaire souvenir stock and recently received new T-shirts that feature the General Store and surrounding buildings. Hand-crafted items from our Village carpenters (“The Climbing Bear” and “Carousel”) are back and so too are various items made in the Blacksmith Shop. Hand-made craft items from not only the Allaire Auxiliary but also from local artisans that make soap and candles stock our shelves. Our candy and reproduction toy selection has been greatly expanded, and so too has our tin-ware items! Other merchandise at our Store include: Pierced Tin Lanterns, wooden nickels, historic maps and documents, 19th century writing supplies, books (including titles from local school required reading lists!), glassware, paperweights, pottery, and the Clevenger Brothers Glass “Allaire Commemorative Bottles”! We also sell Old-World Christmas ornaments for those ready to start the Holiday early!
The Allaire General Store & Museum Gift Shop carries a wide variety of new items with monthly changing retail displays. The Store is currently open on Wednesdays & Fridays from 10:00am to 4:00pm and Saturdays & Sundays from 10:00am to 4:30pm. The store will also be open late during the four nights of Halloween Hayrides featuring limited-time Halloween souvenirs! Visit Allaire’s website or pick up a Calendar of Events for our weekday and weekend hours!
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Hope you enjoyed this informative look into one of Allaire’s most treasured buildings!
-Hannah
