The History of the Store

Deeds and town records indicate that the original building on this site dates from around 1845. This was built by Abijah Clark, who also seems to have built the 1814 Federal style house next door (read more about the Abijah Clark house), and lived there until 1850. We believe that the original building was enlarged or replaced at some point. In 1870 William Morse owned the store and the house. The Wheeler Brothers Store dates back to 1875, when William and Elwin Wheeler began operation of a store at this location. The Wheeler family has owned the store building ever since, later acquiring the 'Clark' house around 1908.

The store sold every imaginable type of goods, from food items to clothing to hardware and farm implements. Among the items found inside were Victorian hat pins and lace collars, silk stockings Honus Wagner baseballs and Louisville Slugger bats. The town's post office was located in the store, as was its telegraph office. Prior to telephones, the Wheelers would make a circuit of the local residents in the morning, taking orders for things they needed. Deliveries would be made in the afternoon. Messages the families wrote to each other would be delivered as well. A 1937 Chevrolet delivery truck, bought new and still running and in use, was among the items auctioned.

In 1968 Silas Wheeler, in poor health and with the store's business declining, decided to close the store. None of the stock of the store, however, was ever thrown away. 30 years later a combination of events led the family to connect with Jay Beard of Simond Hill Auctions and created an event that gathered international attention, the 2001 auction of a time capsule of Americana. [click here to see images of some of the auction items]

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