In the bustling mill town of Stephentown Flats (Garfield) was one of the earliest stores. It was owned by Henry Platt and later by his son Henry Platt, Jr. The store failed in 1829 and there was an auciton. Horace S. Wheeler and Charles H. Vary also had stores, selling dry goods, hardware and farming implements It is believed that the Vary Store was in operation between 1881 and 1921.
In North Stephentown (1778) a pioneer store was established by Joseph Westcott. A second store, the Lawrence Van Valkenburg store, was owned by Erastus Brown for many years. the Cranstons, John H. and Henry R., followed as keepers of this store. Later, Henry T. Douglas became owner. He was followed by his son-in-law, William Asa Gile. Calvin H. Atwater - dealer in all kinds of building material, builders hardware, plumbing and mason supplies E.R. Potter - dealer in lumber, coal, feed, lime and cement (in operation in early 1900's) W.H. Atwater - seller of pine, hemlock, spruce, chestnut, and hard wood lumber, lath and four foot wood. He had a steam saw and planing mill Bateman Motors - which sold cars William A. Lapp - repairer and builder of all kinds of wagons and sleighs
In Stephentown Depot, the Village, Henry Carpenter had both a small farm and a store (1870). He sold dry goods, groceries, coal and hardware. Later, William I. Cranston, who was in the livery business, operated this store. The Herman N. Brimmer general store was reported as having a telephone. Walter B. Goold and William S. Cranston sold drugs and medicines as well as general merchandise and hardware.
l-r:Emma Smith (1841-1908), Adeline Manchester Goold (1839-1916), married Walter B. Goold (1840-1927) and Mary Green.
Records show that Spencer C. Brown built a store in 1871. The business was passed on to his son Frederick, Sr.
Spencer C. Brown's store
Around 1850, Horatio D. Coleman had a store in Little Mechanicville, now Stephentown Center.
Horatio D. Coleman
His daughter Edith May
Coleman had a store in
Stephentown
Today these stores are gone, replaced by other stores, small businesses and residences.
Sykes Store has had two locations and over 70 years of operation. The store was started by Walter C. Sykes and his wife Carrie Bateman Sykes. They are gone now, but the store is still running, under the capable leadership of Walt and Carrie's son Paul and his wife.
Sykes Store at it's first location, about 1929
Sykes Store at its current location on Main Street. We visited the store in August, 2003, and though things around it change, the inside and outside of the store look much the same as it has for as long as I can remember.
Ira L. Eddy, (pictured below), son of Cyrus and Betsey Beers Eddy had a store in Garfield (North Stephentown). He bought a new store in Stephentown, in 1908. (below)
Ira Eddy Store, on Garfield Road. It once stood opposite the bridge on Presbyterian Hill Road between the Platt House and Hoags Store.
The Ira L. Eddy General Store and residence (store on right, residence the middle of the three buildings in this photo), built by Milo Daniels and operated by him until 1908, when Ira Eddy purchased it. It was located in back of the Vanderbilt House. (information taken from Stephentown Historical Society album #2, page 20)
Eddy Family
For more information on the Eddy family, click here.
Vary Family
