If We Don't Have It

Store motto at Dan & Whit's, VT

. . .You Don't Need It !

That's the motto posted at Dan & Whit's general store in Norwich, VT. It can be found on items throughout the store, from clothing to shopping totes.

For over 100 years, this store has been as much of a fixture as an iconic New England church steeple.

Norwich, VT, was settled by land grantees from Norwich, CT in 1761 which explains its name. This small New England town (pop. under 4,000) is one of the wealthiest towns in Vermont. It's home to many professors who teach at Dartmouth College, just across the Connecticut River in Hanover, NH. 

Dan & Whit's store is an integral part of the town and it's located in the center of town, as downtowns go, this one is small. There's the Norwich Post Office, the Norwich Bookstore, the Norwich Fire Department, and the Norwich Inn where we stayed (more on the inn later). 

Dan & Whit's General Store, Norwich, VT

Everyone who lives or visits Norwich most likely has shopped here. Years ago there were up to five general stores in town, today just Dan & Whit's remains in the same Main Street location since 1891. It's served many purposes in that time—a bank, town hall, and the local post office. The Merrill family, its previous owners, ran it for three generations. In the 1930s, Dan Fraser & Whit Hicks began working there; 20 years later when the Merrills decided to sell, Fraser and Hicks purchased it in 1955. 

Both men ran the business until the 1970s, when Whit sold his half of the business to Dan. The name stayed and Dan's sons, George and Jack, took over in the 1970s. They're still the principal owners and visit often, now the third generation of the Frasers runs the day-to-day operation. 

Like other independent country stores in New England (there's still others) shopping at Dan & Whit's is a unique experience, like going back in time. 

Housewares, dairy products, canning goods and canned foods

Inside, there's groceries, produce, local dairy products, canning items, housewares, clothing, toys and even flowers or firewood. If you're hungry, there's also a deli and meat counter, pre-made salads and sandwiches, pizza, and even take-out sushi.

Sandwiches, groceries, and produce

The exterior isn't fancy with gas pumps out front. Self-service pumps became a gas station standard years ago, but until 2012 gas pumps here were maintained by a service attendant When an underground tank needed replacement, it was time to replace the pumps, but the store's gas provider could only provide ones with credit card slots. One good thing is the changeover helps prevent non-paying drive-offs to the tune of up to $100 a day. Before, some motorists would fill up and leave while the attendant was inside running a customer's card.

Bulletin boards in front of store

There's no eye-catching window displays. Several bulletin boards hold postings from various community groups in no specific order. If it's posted, someone might read it.

Directory on back door 

The real experience is where the general market ends and you go through an unmarked door behind the meat counter to enter the real general store. 

Some of the thousands of items found in Dan & Whit's 

Here's where you'll find thousands of items, some of which are listed on the Hardware Department door. There's hunting and fishing gear, dog treats, livestock grain, gardening tools, snow shovels, work gloves, socks seasonal items, flower pots and soil, hoses, grill supplies, baskets, canning supplies camping gear, fencing, screens, axes, sledge hammers and firewood.

Vintage screw cabinet and scale at Dan 7 Whit's

This store is such a community staple that when the pandemic hit and help was hard to find, residents came to help out. Local professionals including a business man, doctor, teacher, professor, therapist, and nurse helped the store stay open for business.

A general store can't match a big box store where things will cost less. But, there won't be as much genuine affection, and some fun too, in the shopping experience. That's what a store like Dan and Whit's still has to offer everyone who comes in.

The Norwich Inn on Main Street, Norwich, VT

Our road trip to Norwich, VT, was a 90 minute drive from Nashua, NH. We stayed here at the Victorian-style Norwich Inn on downtown Main Street. Set back from the street, the inn has three buildings that accommodate 40 guest rooms; 17 are housed in the Victorian mansion, which has a lounge, dining room and pub. The large covered porch has rocking chairs that have been used by many visitors over 226 years.

Moose head at Norwich Inn

Entering the inn's back door, we were greeted by this guy with a bird friend. According to a small plaque, this moose met his demise in September 1924. He's been at the inn many years.

The Norwich Inn was built in 1797 by Colonel Jasper Murdock as a private residence considered one of the state's finest. Colonel Murdock ran his home as the Norwich Inn, a stagecoach tavern that hosted travelers on the coach road heading north from Boston to the White Mountains. In 1801, it  became the Curtis Hotel owned by Eleazer Curtis. 

In July 1817, the fifth U.S. President James Monroe took a summer trip through New England and stopped at the inn. According to the inn's history, he had dinner and spent time meeting town citizens before leaving. While Monroe had a short visit, the hotel gained bragging rights as the first Vermont lodging establishment to have hosted an American president.

The Newton Inn, Norwich, VT

Its next owner, local resident Lewis S. Partridge, a member of the Vermont Militia, named it the Union House. 

After his 1886 death, Dr. W.S. Bowles became the next owner and it became the Newton Inn. It was destroyed in a December 1889 fire that began in a neighboring store, consuming it, the town post office, and several structures. Innkeeper Bowles, rebuilt in 1890 on the foundation of the original structure. The new Newton Inn resembled a Victorian structure with a wraparound porch and central turret.

In 1920, Dr. Bowles sold the inn to Charles and Mary Walker, who restored its original name. Although Prohibition had just started, the Walkers ran a tavern and, according to local legend, “Ma” Walker, served bootleg whiskey in the inn's cellar. A hotel register from the time features cartoons of Dartmouth students with mugs held high. A famous Dartmouth graduate, Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss) was a frequent patron. When Charles died, Mary ran the inn until the mid-1930s when health issues forced her to sell. Guests have reported seeing her spirit in the dining room, dressed in a black formal gown. 

During its years of various ownership, structural changes were made to reflect trends of the day. Porches were enclosed and towers were removed. In 1991, new innkeepers began restoring the building to its earlier splendor as a landmark in the center of Norwich. Renovations included the reappearance of the central cupola and reconstruction of the front porch.

Jasper Murdock's Alehouse at the Norwich Inn

The inn's brewing traditions returned when a microbrewery was opened in a former livery building. In 1993, Jasper Murdock's Alehouse began producing English-style ale and a flagship ale, Whistling Pig Red Ale. About 200 barrels of beer are crafted annually and sold exclusively at the pub and it's one of the smallest U.S. breweries.

Dining room, back entry and staircase at the Norwich Inn

In 2006, the inn changed owners again and was bought by a Potomac, MD, couple who stayed there while visiting their Dartmouth College son and considered buying the property. There was just one hitch, it wasn't up for sale. That said, discussions were held and the inn once again had new owners. They were on-site during our visit, we were told, by the full-time innkeeper, Dave.

As you'll find in most historic hotels, the bathroom is much smaller than those in a modern lodging. If you choose a room in the historic Main Inn, it is not handicap-accessible. There is no elevator. You'll get exercise using the stairs, which are carpeted and nice to look at and Dave will help out with luggage.

Seating areas at the Norwich Inn

Just off of the dining areas is a Victorian-style living room complete with overhead chandeliers and a fireplace that was lit every evening during our visit. The room has comfortable seating to sit and enjoy a good book, chat or play a board game.

King Arthur Baking Company headquarters, Norwich, VT

No visit to Norwich, VT, would be complete without stopping at King Arthur headquarters, the flagship campus for all things about baking. We watched artisan bakers in the company bakery, browsed the extensive store, and had lunch at the onsite café. We also spoke to folks who had travelled from PA and WI to attend some of the baking classes.

King Arthur store and bakery products

The company was founded in 1790 in Boston, MA, by Henry Wood who was an importer and distributor, originally of English-milled flour. Over the following years, it changed owners from Wood to Benjamin Sands and in 1895 was organized as a joint-stock company, named Sands, Taylor & Wood Company after the owners: Orin Sands, Mark Taylor, and George Wood (no relation to Henry Wood).

In 1896, the company introduced a new brand of premium flour that was called King Arthur Flour. It was so named after George Wood attended a performance of a musical, King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. The new flour was introduced at the Boston Food Fair in September 1896 to commercial success which has continued to this day.

The company became an employee-owned business in 1996 and has been 100% employee-owned since 2004. It's been named one of the Best Places to Work in Vermont annually since 2006. 

In July 2020, King Arthur Flour changed its name to The King Arthur Baking Company Inc. to reflect products and services other than flour, which include baking equipment, baking mixes, and cookbooks through its catalog, website, and at its flagship store. The logo was changed from a medieval knight riding a charger to a wheat-themed crown.

The re-branding was launched several months into the Covid pandemic, as retail flour sales exploded and people started home baking. King Arthur's flour sales in March 2020 were nearly 20 times above that of the previous year. That's a lot of dough (flour and dollars)!

Yes, I was one of those home bakers who used King Arthur brand exclusively, and still do.