Hickory Bridge Farm Country Store
Step back in time at the Hickory Bridge Farm Country Store, an authentic turn-of-the-century general store lovingly curated by William and Grace Newman. Opened in 1978, this nostalgic gem isn’t a reproduction—it’s the real deal, filled with antique treasures, original fixtures, and rich local history. From an old-fashioned post office and checkerboard by the iron stove to penny candy, sharp cheese, and sarsaparilla, every corner tells a story. Nestled within the charm of Hickory Bridge Farm, this one-of-a-kind store offers a true taste of Americana you won’t find anywhere else.
Experience the Charm of an Authentic Turn-of-the-Century Country Store
Antiques, Penny Candy, and a Slice of Americana
View a newspaper article from the opening year 1978:
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Text from the 1978 Gettysburg Time's article: THE NEWMANS ESTABLISH AN OLD-FASHIONED COUNTRY STORE
There's a big difference between William and Grace Newman's general store and most old-fashioned country store reproductions. Newman's store is not a reproduction, but an authentic tum-of-the-century general store, complete with iron stove, post office, and checkerboard. When the Newmans began collecting antiques from old general stores fifteen years ago they had a hobby. Today they are the proprietors of "Will Eever's General Store,. at Hickory Bridge Farm, Orrtanna. Everything in the store is antique or originally from a genuine old general store, the Newmans are proud to point out. Everything, that is, except the fresh molasses that oozes from the pump of an antique molasses barrel, the penny candy. most of which still sells for a penny, the sharp cheese, sold on weekends. and the building itself. Everything else, right down to a slate sign proclaiming ·· Eggs 20 cents," is original. Mrs. Newman said people usually ask if the sign means 20cents each before she explains that it was written in chalk in about 1920. and has never been erased. FROM THE OLD STORE The egg sign and many of the other furnishings and merchandise in the store were collected from old general stores throughout Pennsylvania, Newman explained. There are wood counters, shelves with rolled curtains to keep the dust away, candy cases, barrels, a coffee grinder, a thread spool case, a scale, a rack of vegetable and flower seed envelopes, and much more. The store even has a post office, complete with a money order window, post office boxes, and a sign above its door warning that it is illegal to assault postal employees while on duty. The post office which closed in 1972, came from Charmain, Pa. The store has become a "little bit more than a hobby," Mrs. Newman said, since it outgrew the basement of the storekeepers, Fairfield home, where they used to have it set up. They moved the store to Hickory Bridge with the help of Dr. James H. Hammett, owner of the farm, and the Newman's neighbor for 25 years. Hammett wanted to help them have a place where people could see their collection, Newman explained. The store itself has been open since May of 1978. Newman hopes to have the post office completed by applee harvest time. The carpentry in the store was done by Ken Sanders, of Fairfield, who did ''a fine, outstanding job," he said. Many of the pieces in the store were retrieved from old stores in the Adams County area that had closed down. A string and bag holder hanging above the counter is from Bill Musselman's old store in Fairfield, and some of the mail sorting tables in the post office are from the Fairfield post office, which was remodeled several years ago. |
A wire that runs the length of the ceiling, and is lined with children's stockings, ladies' shoes, and a man's summer ''union suit," plus a variety of advertisements, still holds the same "JT" chewing tobacco sign that hung in old Bream's Store, Cashtown.
AT CASHTOWN The two counters and the ceiling-high shelves behind them were also from the store, started in Cashtown by David Mickley sometime between 1880 and 1890. Dale Bream, whose father bought the store from Mickley and began using it as a warehouse in 1922, got the shelves and counters for the Newmans. When the place was closed down 56 years ago the store was nearly perfectly preserved, Newman said, pointing to a packing crate slat found atop the shelving when the "store" was moved from Bream's building. The board, covered with ink doodllngs that were probably dope by Mickley, is inscribed with Mickley's initials, the words ''Cashtown.'' the date 1890, a staghunt scene. leaves , rabbits, a chicken, and a pig, among other swirls and scrawls. The shelves are lined with items that include medicine and liniment bottles. jars, and tins. One sample, Dr. Hess' Healing Powder, has home and family uses listed on one side of its can, and horse uses on the other. The antiques, the atmosphere, and the attitude of the Newmans have kept the store from becoming another of the many area tourist-traps. It fils in well with the rest of Hickory Bridge Farm, where groups hold occasional hayrides and square dances. Dinners are served farm and family style in a converted barn, and the Hammetts serve fresh vegetables from their garden. We didn’t want to get into souvenirs, Newman said, adding that having just a few things to sell would “tie it together” as a real general store. So in addition to the molasses and cheese, they have sarsaparilla, a few jewelries, apple butter, and honey. It looks like their attempt to keep the store a simple slice of Americana and not a bite out of the tourist’s dollar has worked. “We’ve got a lot of people that came in here to play checkers… believe it or not,” Mrs. Newman said. And there aren’t many places left where you can still buy penny candy and play checkers. |
