Todd General Store facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Todd General Store
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in North Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Location | 3866 Railroad Grade Road, Todd, North Carolina, 28684 |
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| Part of | Todd Historic District (ID00000017) |
| Designated CP | January 28, 2000 |
The Todd General Store is a historic building in Todd, North Carolina. It's about 10 miles south of West Jefferson and 11 miles north of Boone. You can find it on Railroad Grade Road, which is known as a beautiful bike route along the New River.
This store is an important part of the Todd Historic District, a special area recognized on the National Register of Historic Places. The Todd General Store is one of the very few original general stores left in North Carolina. It's also the oldest store still open in Ashe County. For many years, it has been a favorite meeting spot for local people to share stories and build friendships.
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A Look at the Past
The Todd General Store first opened in 1914. It was originally called Cook Brothers General Store. Brothers Walter and Monroe Cook built it because they knew the Norfolk and Western "Virginia Creeper" train was coming. Todd was the last stop for this train, which traveled from Abingdon, Virginia, twice a day.
The store sold many different things, like clothes, shoes, tools, food, and even animal feed. Most of these items arrived by train. Todd was a busy community back then. It had nine stores, four doctors, a dentist, a Ford garage, a bank, a grist mill, a drug store, a post office, a train station, and four churches.
Walter Cook Takes Over
In 1917, Walter Cook bought out his brother's share of the store. He renamed it W.G. Cook Store. Back then, people often traded items instead of using money. Money was hard to find in Todd before the train arrived. The store kept special books called Ledgers to record what customers owed or traded.
Customers might trade chickens, roots, herbs, or other valuable items for things they needed. Sometimes, they even received special "W.G. Cook" tokens that could only be used at his store. Many of the items traded at the store were then sent to Virginia by train.
The General Store was the heart of the community. It met all the shopping needs of the local people. Customers would gather around the wood cookstove to chat and hear the latest town news. Most people traveled by horseback or walked. Only a few people had cars, and the roads were often rough and full of potholes.
Tough Times for the Store
Between 1933 and 1936, the Norfolk & Western railroad removed its tracks from Todd. This was also during the Great Depression, a very difficult time for the country. Many businesses in Todd started to close. The W.G. Cook Store was the only one that managed to stay open during these hard years.
Walter Cook owned the store for 43 years. Then, he sold it to Kenny Goodman, who changed the name to Goodman's Grocery.
Goodman's Grocery Era
Kenny Goodman ran a successful general store for about 20 years. However, towards the end of his time, he saw that traditional general stores were becoming less popular. More people had cars, and new, better roads were built. Large chain grocery stores and department stores opened in nearby Boone and West Jefferson.
With easier travel, people started going to bigger towns to buy their goods. Mr. Goodman decided to sell the store that had been so important to the community for many years.
New Owners and Changes
After Goodman, the store changed hands four times in just eight years. Bob Peet bought it and renamed it the Todd General Store. But he struggled to keep up with the changing times, and business slowed down. Peet sold it to Al and Carol Shelly, who ran it for a couple of years. Then, Dennis and Alice Dent took over for another couple of years. During this time, the store's stock of goods became very low as the old-fashioned country store continued to decline.
The Morgans' Efforts
Joe and Sheila Morgan bought the Todd General Store at the start of 1985. They owned and operated it for the next 17 years.
In their first few months, the Morgans worked hard to fix up the building. They added bathrooms, brought in running water, installed a large septic system, and built a parking lot. They also looked for old-style fixtures and advertising memorabilia to make the store look like it did in its busiest days. They advertised widely to attract visitors, hoping that more customers would help the store stay open all year to serve the local community.
The Manns' Time
Robert and Virginia Mann purchased the store in early 2002. They continued to make repairs and updated the store's layout. They added more seating for the many musical and cultural events held at the store. They also added an internet station and a new wooden deck at the back. The store eventually closed in 2016.
The Cook House
The W.G. Cook house was built in 1916. It was where the store owners lived until the Morgans bought the store. In 1986, the house was changed into a shop that sold antiques, crafts, and collectibles. In 1994, it became a rental home again until December 2000.
