WEST TOPSHAM- General Stores, also called Country Stores have a long tradition of being the heart of their communities. The following two are no exception. The Swiftwater Way Station in Bath is a mere 15 years old, while the West Topsham Country Store’s history goes back over a century. Each store carries food, groceries and sundries, and each store’s owners are putting their own indelible stamp on the communities they serve.

West Topsham Country Store

Visit the West Topsham Country Store any Tuesday during the warm weather season and before entering the store, you get the distinct feeling that you’ve stepped back to a simpler time.

William Huyler “Gramps” Danforth, father of Sheila Danforth, the store’s owner, and Duncan “Dunc” McKay can be found sitting on the porch each Tuesday, commiserating in a way that only two friends with a long history can. Known as “The Mayors of the Hill,” these two hold court with the many visitors who visit the store throughout the day.

The original building was destroyed in a fire along with several other nearby buildings and church. The current building, built in 1901was known as Hights store, and despite having several owners is still referred to by that name.

When the great hurricane of 1938 blew in, the roof was blown off the building and had to be replaced. “The story is that seagulls blew this far inland, and sand could be found on the buildings after the storm,” said Dave Locke, who runs the store with Danforth. Stepmom and cashier Betty Danforth pointed to a pre-hurricane picture of the store with its pitched roof and noted, “That storm was the reason we switched to a flat top roof.”

A life long dream

“I’ve always wanted my own store,” said Danforth, and five years ago I bought the East Corinth General Store.” She lacked the necessary “store” experience, causing lenders to balk at her request for a mortgage in spite of her written business plans. “I was working in insurance and underwrote this store for then owner Ken Johnston. Johnston was ready to retire and offered to help finance the store if she could come up with a “little bit of money.” She complied and two weeks later owned her store.

“I had no clue as to what I was doing,” said Danforth. She had to learn to cater to the wished of her customers rather than her own notion of what products to stock. She built up the business over several years, and “last year Dave and I took off on his motorcycle to California for two weeks.”

West Topsham Country Store

According to both Danforth and Locke each time they passed the empty building that until recently housed Nelson’s Store, Locke remarked that it needed a coat of paint. “It started as a joke,” said Danforth, but the towns people seriously encouraged them to buy the building, paint it and return a General Store to the town.

Earlier this year the West Topsham Country Store became theirs, opening just six days after their closing. The store was completely empty, but they had all their vendors and workers in place.

The couple credits Capitol Candy of Barre for the complete design, layout and setup of the store. “We love that they are local,” said Danforth. The days leading up to the opening were a blur of vendors stocking shelves and coolers, workers cleaning floors and cases, and the upstairs being readied for occupancy. Bradford Oil added gas pumps for auto fuel and diesel.

The big day came on Sun. June 13, and according to Locke, “We offered MacKenzie hot dogs for $.25 each.

The couple’s mission is to grow by being sensitive to the needs and desires of their customers, proudly noting “we’re one of the few places that sell Moxie.” They hope to see the store once again become the community center of West Topsham, and are counting on their two “Mayors” to help make this happen.

Store hours: Mon. through Fri. 5 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Sat. 6 a.m. – 8:30 pm. Sun. 7 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. Call them at (802) 439-6400.

Swiftwater Way Station

BATH—Scenic Route 112 off Route 302 in Woodsville wends its way passed the Mountain Lakes community onto French Road right to the doorstep of the log building that’s home to the Swiftwater Way Station, one of the area’s newest General Stores.

The building is just 15 years old, but Wini and Bill Matteson, owners for nearly two years, have already made an impact on this small lakeside community. Entering the store one feels the unmistakable familiarity, ambience and friendliness of a community store. The well stocked interior has a rustic quintessentially New England Log home feel to it. Everyone here is on a first name basis with the Mattesons, and it’s a rare person who doesn’t leave smiling.

“The store was built by two brothers but I’m not sure why they sold it,” said Matteson. “The next owners were two Canadians names Fern and Lis Boudwin. They came into an empty building and built the business from the ground up,” she continued. Wini, from Laconia and Bill from Brownsville looked extensively in both Vermont and New Hampshire to find the “right fit for us and this was the one.”

Dream surprised her

“I didn’t even realize that this was my dream,” laughed Matteson, “until several people reminded me that this was exactly what I said I always wanted to do.” The couple worked nearly every job in the restaurant business for several years. “This business is not a big stretch from that one,” she noted.

Tired of the long erratic hours of the restaurant business and wanting “a normal job with normal hours conducive to raising a young, growing family,” the couple did a four year stint “working for other people” in the nine to five world. Bill became a service manager for a car dealership, while Wini worked in the Mental Health field.

The predictability of the nine to five world didn’t work for this couple, and they returned to the service industry they both loved. “Our store sits next door to our home, allowing us to tend the business andour family.

The couple took ownership last Dec.2 and opened Dec.3. They immediately made some fundamental changes by adding Pepsi and Coke coolers. Matteson also built an island to put the coffee she brought in as well as hot breakfast and lunch sandwiches, and hot dogs. She rebuilt the isles, painted, redecorated and did a lot of cleaning. “I’m not finished yet, said Matteson, citing the new loading dock and recent new roof.” She’d like to landscape the front to make it more attractive to customers and passersby.

In addition to grocery and deli items customers can find tourist items such as sweatshirts, post cards in addition to videos and fishing tackle. The Swiftwater Way Station also has a laudromat on the premises for the convenience of summer and year round residents.

Although the Mattesons will make changes according to their customers’ needs and requests, they are determined to maintain the convenience store atmosphere and country store ambience. Travelers looking for directions and information are as common a sight as their regular core of customers. “We give out a lot of directions and information,” laughed Matteson.

Bill is amused by people who see owning a store like theirs as a romantic dream. “They don’t realize the long hours and hard work that goes into a business like this,” he said. “This is not a business you go into to get rich,” said both, “but we’re able to work for and invest in ourselves and provide our family with a good life. It’s fulfilling in many ways, and we like building the business. We could never survive without the locals who welcomed us with open arms. ”

Although the hours are long and the work demanding, this couple is very happy serving their community. “It’s a great feeling getting to know our customers on a personal level and letting them get to know us as well. It adds to the sense of community.” The Swiftwater Way Station opens Mon. through Fri. at 6 a.m., Sat. and Sun. at 7 a.m. Closing is 8 p.m. Sun. through Thurs. and 9 p.m. Fri. and Sat. Call them at (603) 747-2929.