A Trip To One Of The Oldest General Stores In Massachusetts Is Like Stepping Back In Time
By Melissa Mahoney|Published September 02, 2021
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Melissa Mahoney
Author
I'm an east coast girl living in a west coast world. I grew up in New England before moving to SoCal for several years. I then lived in NYC or a year before moving to AZ in 2009. I worked in the entertainment industry for many years of my adult life and have a deep love for photography, writing, and traveling around the U.S. as well as to far-flung locations around the world. Travel is my life and writing about it is a dream!
Everywhere you go in the Bay State, there seems to be a historical house, building, or some other points of interest. The same goes for general stores across our great state. Located in South Dartmouth, Davoll’s General Store is the oldest general store in Massachusetts and it’s one that everyone can enjoy visiting.
Davoll's General Store in South Dartmouth, Massachusetts is the state's oldest store. Established in 1793, its ownership has changed many times but its charm and appeal have remained the same.
Since the late 1700s, ownership has changed many times with different families taken over. Among the families who have owned Davoll's include the Howland, Cumming, Allen, Slocum, Tucker, Church, Potter, Sherratt, Davoll, Morrison, Glennon, and Arruda and Chounard families.
Currently, it is owned by brothers Will and Ben Shattuck who grew up just down the street from Davoll's.
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Go inside and you'll feel the sense of history here as you shop for local produce, honey, milk, eggs, and other necessities, along with a variety of gifts, art, and handcrafted items.
While it's maintained its purpose as a general store, as well as its historic charm, the new owners have added a few features that bring it a little more into modern times.
One welcome addition to the general store is a small independent bookstore featuring an array of fiction, non-fiction, children's and YA books, cookbooks, and more! If you'd like, you can even join the Davoll's Book Club which meets to discuss the Book of the Month on the first of every month at 6 p.m. in the cafe.
Between the market items, bookstore, and cafe and pub, you can truly spend an entire day here at Davoll's General Store! It is quite the charming destination steeped in history yet brought into the modern times with all it has to offer.
Have you ever visited the historic Davoll’s General Store, the oldest general store in Massachusetts? If so, please tell your fellow readers all about it in the comment section. For more information on Davoll’s General Store, visit the website and follow the Facebook page.
