Colebrook Store celebrates 225th anniversary

COLEBROOK — The Colebrook Store celebrated its 225th anniversary on Sunday, Aug. 13. Festivities were held all over the town in honor of the event. 

“We’ve been planning this event since last winter,” said Colebrook Preservation Society President Bob Lord. As part of the event, hamburgers and hot dogs were served by the store outside and people could go bobbing for apples or decorate cupcakes. To round off the evening there was a dance party.

Volunteer Sally Bainbridge was the organizer for the party itself.

“We had a really great turnout for the event,” said store owner Jodi Marinelli. “I can’t even tell you how many milkshakes we’ve made today!” 

State Rep. Jay Case (R-63) and State Sen. Kevin Witkos (R-8) came out to join in the festivities and present a plaque to the Colebrook Preservation Society.

“Back in the spring the Colebrook Consolidated School held an art show where students were asked to draw the Colebrook Store and the drawings were then judged,” said Colebrook Preservation Society board member Marty Neal. “The winner, fourth-grade student Fiona Stevenson, was given the prize of a gift certificate, and her design was used on the T-shirts which were being sold.”

It was not originally known that this year was to be the 225th anniversary of the store. For many years, it was thought that the store had opened in 1812. 

“We only recently found the documentation in an older building in town which showed that the store’s construction ended in 1792,” said Lord. 

Lord said The Colebrook Preservation Society has done a great deal of restoration work to the building. 

“The only project we have left is to paint the front and column and replace a few more of the front windows,” said Lord.

For more information on The Colebrook Store go to www.colebrookstore.net.

For information on the Colebrook Preservation Society go to www.colebrookpreservationsociety.org.