St. James General Store facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. James General Store
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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The Saint James General Store in April 2011
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | Moriches Road & Harbor Hill Road, St. James, New York |
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| Built | 1857 |
| Architect | Ebenezer Smith |
| Part of | Saint James District (ID73001275) |
| Designated CP | July 20, 1973 |
The Saint James General Store is a historic general store located in St. James, New York. It opened in 1857 and is one of the oldest general stores still operating in the United States. It is an important part of the Saint James District, a special area known for its history. The store can be found at the corner of Moriches and Harbor Hill Roads.
Contents
A Look Back: Store History
Building the Store
The story of the Saint James General Store begins with a man named Ebenezer Smith. In the 1840s, Ebenezer, whose family helped found the Town of Smithtown, went on an adventure. He traveled west of the Mississippi River to trade with settlers and Native Americans. When he heard about the California Gold Rush, he went even further west, hoping to make a lot of money.
Ebenezer returned to Long Island with some success. In 1857, he built the General Store. At that time, much of the community was centered around the store. Local farmers and sailors often visited to buy goods and use its services. The store also served as the local post office. Later, in the late 1800s, it even had the first telephone in the area!
The Railroad Arrives
When the Smithtown and Port Jefferson Railroad built the Saint James Railroad Station nearby, some people worried it would lead to too much new building. But that didn't happen. Instead, the railroad helped bring many famous people to the community and to the store.
Old records from the store show that many well-known people visited. These included silent film actor Willie Collier, former New York City Mayor William Jay Gaynor, and famous architect Stanford White. Later, other stars like Ethel Barrymore, John Barrymore, Buster Keaton, and even boxing champion James J. Corbett came to the store.
New Owners Over Time
At the start of the 1900s, Ebenezer's son, Everett, took over the store. After Everett Smith passed away in 1940, his father-in-law, Karl Ericson, became the owner. Karl continued to run the store until he was 90 years old!
Keeping History Alive: Preservation Efforts
Even as many areas around Long Island grew and changed, the Saint James General Store stayed open. In 1959, Louise and Andrew Havrisko bought the store. They were determined to keep its historical feel and prevent it from becoming a regular house.
The store's structure hasn't changed much since 1894. It was set up to look like a store from the years between 1880 and 1910, and it still feels that way today. In 1973, the store became part of the Saint James Historic District. This district was added to the National Register of Historic Places, which helps protect important historical sites.
In 1980, John and Eleanor Oakley bought the store. Then, in 1990, the Suffolk County Department of Parks purchased it. They dedicated it to the Suffolk County Historical Trust, making sure it would be preserved for future generations.
Today, the store continues to sell items from the late Victorian era, just as it did in the second half of the 1900s. Upstairs, you can find old books and children's toys that teach about Long Island's history. It's a great place to step back in time!
