End of an era

HOULTON, Maine — After nearly a century of providing Houlton area folks with top of the line clothing, shoes and much more, Town and Country Clothing and Footwear is closing its doors.

The store’s final day is tentatively slated for Christmas Eve, Dec. 24.

Stephen Hutchinson, who has operated the family-owned business for the past 38 years, said the time was right for him to close as he wanted the store to end on a high note. “I have been in this building and business since I was a newborn,” he said. “My mother would bring me in because my father was working.”

Hutchinson, along with his wife Andrea, have seen generations come through the doors of their shop and will miss the many wonderful local connections they have had with people over the years.

“We have seen a great turnout since we announced our closure,” Hutchinson said. “Everything has gone as well as I could have hoped for. We have had a big response from people who say they will miss us. We are truly thankful for that response.”

Hutchinson said he is most proud of how his business has been able to support the area schools over the years through the Dollars for Scholars and Project Graduation programs. The store has also supported numerous public fundraisers for people over the years through the donation of gift certificates or items.

Hutchinson added he wished to thank the family of Morris Shapiro, the company’s founder, as well as the families of former owners Bernard Hannan and Leigh Stewart, his parents and children, and the many employees for their contributions over the years.

So, why was the time right for him to close?

“We really wanted to go out while we are still on top,” Hutchinson said. The store is fully inventoried and Hutchinson added by having a going out of business sale at Christmas, it would be a good way to offer some great deals to people on quality brand names for the holidays.

Hutchinson said he will miss seeing the many customers who have become friends over the years.

“We have had some great customers over the years and we will miss seeing them,” he said. “There are a lot of repeat customers and those who have moved away, but come home in the summertime or Christmas. They all come back to shop.”

Since they own the building, once the store is closed he plans to renovate the inside and convert into office space.

Jane Torres, executive director for the Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce, said the loss of such an iconic business in downtown Houlton will be impossible to replace.

“For 93 years Town and Country has been a cornerstone of retail business in Market Square,” Torres said. “It has certainly stood the test of time with quality products, beautifully decorated windows, great service, and the dedication of the Hutchinson family to the needs of the community. Yes, it will be a huge loss but change has a way of surprising even the biggest skeptics. I would hope that the closing of the only clothing store left in Historic Downtown Houlton would show others how important a brick and mortar store is to the people in the Greater Houlton area and to consider opening their own store. You couldn’t ask for a more beautiful location!”

Torres added just because the store is closing, doesn’t mean the community is losing the Hutchinson family.

“The Hutchinson family is certainly looking forward to Phase Two of their business journey,” she added. “Steve and Andrea will still be staying in Houlton and continuing their support of the community but in a different capacity. We wish them well.”

Historical perspective

Located on the corner of lower Market Square, Town and Country has gone through a number of transformations over its lengthy history, including four locations and several names. Morris Shaprio opened the business in 1923, selling clothing, shoes and boots shortly after World War I. He first sold his wares from the back of a horse-drawn cart, working the street corners of downtown Houlton, before opening his first shop in a building that no longer exists. That location is the current home of the Salvation Army.

Hoping to increase the business’s visibility, the store was moved to upper Market Square, to the right of the Dunn Block, where traffic flow was greater. At this time, the business was christened the Army-Navy Store, as much of the goods sold were Army and Navy surplus items. Morris also sold refrigerators and was a primary distributor of J.R. Reynolds Tobacco Company products.

Fire forced the store to close for about a year in 1939. At this time, the store moved a short distance to the Haley Block, which later served as Day’s Jewelry. Today, that site is a vacant storefront located beside the County Co-Op and Farm Store.

Following World War II, the store was busier than ever, open six days a week, with Saturday evenings serving as the busiest time as farmers came to town to do their weekly shopping.

In 1950, the building was sold to Day’s Jewelry, which meant another move was needed. Shapiro moved the business to its current location at the lower entrance to Market Square.

Longtime employees Bernard Hannan, Leigh Stewart and Eugene Hutchinson purchased the business from Shapiro in January of 1958. At that time, Shapiro also liquidated the assets in his Presque Isle store as well.

Under new ownership, the business continued to thrive. In 1965, the name was changed to Town and Country Clothing and Footwear, as the supply of Army and Navy surplus goods no longer applied. The name change also brought about a shift in products to include more modern-style apparel and renovations to the storefront.

In the fall of 1972, two of the business partners — Hannan and Stewart — both died unexpectedly, leaving Eugene Hutchinson as the sole remaining owner. Under his guidance, the focus shifted solely to men’s clothing and footwear, as the tobacco products and boys clothing line were dropped.

In 1974, Eugene Hutchinson purchased the building from Leland Ludwig Jr. and expanded the store to include a jean shop in the basement, which was managed by Eugene’s wife, Betty. That line was later expanded to include women’s clothing. The Hutchinson’s children, Judy and Stephen, worked in the store during their school years. Stephen joined the family business in 1978.

The iconic temperature guage featured on top of the building was designed by Leland Ludwig Jr., who operated Petroleum Products Inc. and was an MIT graduate. The thermometer is made from the bottom of an oil storage tank.

Historical information for this article came from a 1983 story written by Stephen Hutchinson that appeared in the Houlton Pioneer Times.