For a dose of old-fashioned coziness and whimsical holiday charm, duck into the St. James General Store this month for pictures with Santa and to browse back in time at a historical shop from a bygone era.
The hamlet within the town of Smithtown that was once called Sherawogue was renamed St. James during the 1850s. It was during this epoch, 1857 to be exact, when Ebenezer Smith set about to construct the general store. At the time, the St. James residents made their living as farmers, shellfish harvesters and ship captains of trading vessels. Community residents depended on the store for kitchen and housewares items, medicines for themselves as well as for their horses, basic clothing accessories, groceries, hardware, tobacco and household odds and ends. The post office was located within the store, offering up a location and an excuse for townspeople to meet up and gossip while taking care of errands, while a sizeable room upstairs served as a venue for community dances and cultural gatherings. The store also housed the first telephone in the village. Upon Ebenezer’s death, the store was inherited by his son, Everett Smith, who ran the store through the turn of the century until he passed on in 1940. Everett’s father-in-law took over the store’s operations and maintained the business until he was ninety years of age.
After several threats to the store’s existence, Suffolk County and New York State joined forces to preserve the landmark. In 1990, the 133-year old building was purchased through this collaboration and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Every facet of the store’s history and integrity has remained, from the building architecture itself to the quaint charm of nineteenth century ambience.
Today, the store reflects its 1880-1910 period through sales associates behind the counter who are clad in period dress and through the Victorian-era fixtures and items that have retained their permanent home in the store, such as the pot belly stove, the barrels and tea leaf canisters, the old checkerboard and an old fashioned manual coffee grinder. Ledgers and photographs from the store’s heyday are displayed, along with a framed portrait of the founder, Ebenezer Smith himself. The original store shelves now stock a balanced inventory of period antiques and current crafts and edibles fashioned by local craftspeople.
The store’s operations today mirror many of the same functions practiced in the last century. The upstairs room that was once the scene of community cultural events now hosts informative presentations by historians, book signings by local authors and storybook readings for children. Yesteryear’s inventory was dominated by the wares of local craftsmen, and the same characteristic is reflected in the present selection of handbags, jewelry, scarves, holiday and seasonal décor, linens, greeting cards, musical recordings, soaps, candles and foods created by today’s local designers and artisans. If you are seeking any books pertaining to any facet of New York’s history, the book section will get you browsing. You will also marvel at the vast display of antique housewares, toys and decorative items that still span the store’s original counters and shelves, as well as the old-time penny candy counter. It is the scene and the stuff that many of us fondly recall hearing about from our grandmothers.
For the month of December, the St. James General Store has plenty of unique gift ideas and holiday decorations. From Christmas-themed puzzles and CD’s to tree ornaments, get inspired upstairs in the Christmas tree display room, where several trees stand fully trimmed and illuminated. December weekends welcome Santa Claus to the store, where you can capture portrait-worthy moments of your child with Santa in a heartwarming backdrop of the store’s hearth. Before checking out with your purchases, be sure to treat yourself and your loved ones to something sweet from the store’s display of fudge and baked goods.
The St. James General Store is located at 516 Moriches Road in St. James, just north of North Country Road, on the Deepwells Farm Historic Park property. The store is open daily from 10:00am to 5:00pm. Santa will be on the premises every Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 to 4:00pm through December 22.
The hamlet within the town of Smithtown that was once called Sherawogue was renamed St. James during the 1850s. It was during this epoch, 1857 to be exact, when Ebenezer Smith set about to construct the general store. At the time, the St. James residents made their living as farmers, shellfish harvesters and ship captains of trading vessels. Community residents depended on the store for kitchen and housewares items, medicines for themselves as well as for their horses, basic clothing accessories, groceries, hardware, tobacco and household odds and ends. The post office was located within the store, offering up a location and an excuse for townspeople to meet up and gossip while taking care of errands, while a sizeable room upstairs served as a venue for community dances and cultural gatherings. The store also housed the first telephone in the village. Upon Ebenezer’s death, the store was inherited by his son, Everett Smith, who ran the store through the turn of the century until he passed on in 1940. Everett’s father-in-law took over the store’s operations and maintained the business until he was ninety years of age.
After several threats to the store’s existence, Suffolk County and New York State joined forces to preserve the landmark. In 1990, the 133-year old building was purchased through this collaboration and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Every facet of the store’s history and integrity has remained, from the building architecture itself to the quaint charm of nineteenth century ambience.
Today, the store reflects its 1880-1910 period through sales associates behind the counter who are clad in period dress and through the Victorian-era fixtures and items that have retained their permanent home in the store, such as the pot belly stove, the barrels and tea leaf canisters, the old checkerboard and an old fashioned manual coffee grinder. Ledgers and photographs from the store’s heyday are displayed, along with a framed portrait of the founder, Ebenezer Smith himself. The original store shelves now stock a balanced inventory of period antiques and current crafts and edibles fashioned by local craftspeople.
The store’s operations today mirror many of the same functions practiced in the last century. The upstairs room that was once the scene of community cultural events now hosts informative presentations by historians, book signings by local authors and storybook readings for children. Yesteryear’s inventory was dominated by the wares of local craftsmen, and the same characteristic is reflected in the present selection of handbags, jewelry, scarves, holiday and seasonal décor, linens, greeting cards, musical recordings, soaps, candles and foods created by today’s local designers and artisans. If you are seeking any books pertaining to any facet of New York’s history, the book section will get you browsing. You will also marvel at the vast display of antique housewares, toys and decorative items that still span the store’s original counters and shelves, as well as the old-time penny candy counter. It is the scene and the stuff that many of us fondly recall hearing about from our grandmothers.
For the month of December, the St. James General Store has plenty of unique gift ideas and holiday decorations. From Christmas-themed puzzles and CD’s to tree ornaments, get inspired upstairs in the Christmas tree display room, where several trees stand fully trimmed and illuminated. December weekends welcome Santa Claus to the store, where you can capture portrait-worthy moments of your child with Santa in a heartwarming backdrop of the store’s hearth. Before checking out with your purchases, be sure to treat yourself and your loved ones to something sweet from the store’s display of fudge and baked goods.
The St. James General Store is located at 516 Moriches Road in St. James, just north of North Country Road, on the Deepwells Farm Historic Park property. The store is open daily from 10:00am to 5:00pm. Santa will be on the premises every Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 to 4:00pm through December 22.