10E2334: Building JJ Hapgood - the movie

Trailer for an upcoming documentary short on the rebuilding of Peru, Vermont's JJ Hapgood store. Told through local interviews and footage, the full doc will be released later this winter. Created by a student of Burr and Burton Academy Film Department, David Rose.

The store really started in 1827; the current incarnation is a rebuild of the previous structure utilizing salvaged beams, gorgeous Danby marble, tables milled from a felled maple on the property, and the return of the outdoor benches and the community message board. For those just joining, I partly grew up in this small town and the store was a fixture of the community. New owner Juliette also grew up in town (a grade school friend) and with her husband Tim they have responsibly and sensitively rebooted the store and probably the town center. More of my pics and words here.

10E2250: Peru Fair 2013 recap

You might not want to know how sausages are made, but seeing how a pig roast goes down never gets old. At the Peru Fair (held at end of Sept in Southern VT)  the pigs (2 or 3 of them depending on the year and their size) are halved and roasted indirectly, flipped every 30 minutes and basted. This is at about the 4 hour mark - the fire dept are in charge and they'll cook all night till the 12noon picnic starts.

Now 11am. I had this very slick idea of wrapping potatoes in foil and cooking them in the coals. Guess 3 hours was a little long... #cremated

Our friends from the JJHapgood Store got their van inked up. Paging Foster Huntington.

The guys from Switchel were there and doing a brisk trade.

Ok they got me... come on - A for effort.

Deviled quails eggs. Nicely done. Also had peasant soft-tacos. Mmmm

Fix it now, apologize later - reference to 2011 Tropical Storm Irene where Vermonters cut off from outside help (hell, cut off from main roads) who mobilized to clear/fix roads and bridges without waiting for FEMA assistance.

Great old bat. From the father of one of the firemen. Derby Made brand from Barre, VT. You can find them on ebay now and again. This one now used as the handle of an applecider press.

The JJHapgood Store in the town center is now framed and fronted but unpainted and empty. Owners Juliette and Tim created a great stall on the day with merch, a pickle barrel, the oft-requested swedish fish, and major thick-cut bacon BLT's. Head to their FB and vote for the new store color.

Line starts to build at 11:30 for 12. This is about 1/4 of it.

Nom nom nom. #crackling #fat #pigpickin

10E2237: J.J. Hapgood General Store & Eatery - The Revival (part 1)

Joseph Jackson Hapgood established a general store in Peru, Vermont in 1827 and until a few years ago it had been the longest continually running general store in the state. I partly grew up in this small town and the store in the 80's was still a fixture of the community. It was a right of passage to get your own "account" on turning 16. In the 40s and 50s the town post office was inside the store as well - and horses would be fed and watered outside. And let me get this out of the way... this store (and the town) was heavily used in the film Baby Boom with Diane Keaton and Sam Shephard - still holds a goofy place our hearts (heck our cow was used in the movie...). Outside of a post about our kids (which I don't really do) emotions run pretty high about love of this store here at 10engines.

 

Sis in front of the store circa 2006. That truck now dust after being rolled winter of 2009...

After its fall from grace a few years ago many in town were thinking someone should really do something with the [abandoned] store.  Enter an old classmate of mine Juliette who still lives in town (with husband and kids) who decided the someone and something was them. Hats off / high fives / 21 gun salute. The historic building was deamed non-viable by the local commission and they are already midway through a rebuild project - the end goal being to create a store, an exhibition space and kitchen for prepared breakfast and lunches in addition to supplying homewares, dry groceries, produce, beer and wood fired pizza. I know they are already working with neighboring producers and farmers intending to promote local food awareness through special events - events aiming squarely at residents as well as a destination for visitors, but also psyched on the meeting room/exhibition space they have planned. The store is one key to invigorating the town of Peru (one stop sign, no light...) and I could not be happier. To my New England readers especially, see www.jjhapgood.com/ to follow along and hope you 'll pay them visit.

Below is a series of photos taken by Carol Kaplan of the store as it was broomswept and ready to be packed up before demo and the current rebuild - which is being done inclusively with the town (even receiving a church blessing) and sensitively in terms of construction (not to get all Meet The Parents but yes salvaging usable timbers and hardware to be used later) recreating the facade, keeping the facing benches out front... Basically doing everything by the book. Walk through the door and have a look...

This was not 'for show' - the sandwich counter was used to prep sandwiches, the pickle barrel was filled, 

the huge glass cheese case held a massive wheel of cheddar, etc. 

The store was living and breathing at one point and will be again.  

Those Js are so distinctive, love that they have are keeping that in the new signage. #wellplayed

This was the last time I was inside - February 24th 2013. Juliette cranked up the woodstove and

the aged constable came by to tell us his childhood recollections of the store. Amazing.
Another set of these photos to follow in part 2...

Local pastor Margaret blessed the old store this summer and neighbors were invited to reminisce.

Here we go folks www.jjhapgood.com/ a renewal and new beginning. 

I am really looking forward to this ride...

Who decided it was good idea to do all this while wrangling 3 kids and a massive garden? 

Oh yeah... this lady did. Thank you Juliette and Tim!

peru fair 2011 -wrap up

2 weeks ago we headed back up to Peru, Vermont for the annual (30th now) town fair.
Remember Tropical storm Irene? This is all post-Irene, but we didn't see too much damage till we got to Jamaica.


There used to be a bridge here. The detour takes you down Water Street,
past some half demolished houses. This video shows what happened.


Half of the fun for me is hanging out with the fire department as they cook the 3 pigs for the Saturday BBQ.
As you walk towards it you get a massive noseful of smokey bacon. Rule: you gotta flip them every 30 minutes

Fat dripping. Mmmmm

Or else they get dry. Oh wait, no they don't...

Next day. Headed down for the parade. Burma shave signs at right.

• "Bring a friend; bring your kin.
• Get barbeque sauce on your
• Chinny chin chin.
• Our clowns and whimseys
• will make you grin.
• The 30th Peru Fair is about to begin."

Just walk up and down . Lose your friends. Meet other friends.




THIS is how you light some coals...

$10 well spent. Cider included.

If you want the pink monogramming like Sis here, you'll have to call LLBean specially...

Crackling. Hand stamp. Leather trimmed cuffs. Pops.

After paint your own cookies, awesome hot dogs, a magic show, roast corn and more cookies the boys retreat.

*******

Last thing. A few years ago at the Peru Fair they had some demos and we met an old gent that made 3 tine hay forks, basically from 1 piece of wood split and shaped.

An onlooker said "So how many do you think you have made?" to which he replied. "2,116..."
"How can you be sure?" the onlooker asked.
"Because I write the number on each one..." came the dry reply.

He said his first job as apprentice was to make the tools (wooden mallets etc) that he was then to use for the rest of his career.