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  Warrensburgh Heritage Trail

134 River Street

Picture

c.1860
Herrick's Carriage Shop & Variety Store

Livery Stable , Wagon & Carriage Shop, Paint & Hardware Store,
Variety Store
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This contributing, commercial  property dates from the mid-nineteenth  century and originally exhibited  an L-shaped,  gable roofed,  2-
1/2 story plan, which has been modified with the addition of a half story and flat roof on the main block as a result of fire damage.  The building was ‘originally  used as a livery stable,  and later became a wagon and carriage  shop.   The  property  has been owned  by the Herrick  family since 1893 and has been run by them as a paint and hardware store and grocery store.   It retains period details such as recessed  front  entrance  with large storefront windows  and continues  to communicate  its  historic  association  with  the commercial development of the hamlet.

Herrick's Carriage Shop - It is unknown when it was built on the river side of River Street opposite South Avenue, but a livery stable was operated there by Bennett and Palmer in 1871.  In 1893, brothers Simeon and James Herrick purchased the building and carried on a wagon building trade and carriage repair shop.  In 1896, the brothers converted the upper story into living quarters for their families.  It was in operation until 1900, when the brothers dissolved their  partnership. At this point Simeon took over the carriage, wagon and blacksmith business and James started a paint shop and store which eventually became  Herrick's Variety Store. (See below.)  Simeon died in 1934 but had withdrawn from the business in previous years to work as a carpenter.  James died in 1953 and during his later years his sons took over active management of the business,

Herrick's Variety Store, River Street, was established in 1900 by James G. Herrick.  Initially it was a carriage and wagon shop under the name of S.(Simeon) C. Herrick and Brother (See above).  James started a paint shop and store which eventually became  Herrick's Variety Store. A descendant of James and Simeon, Floyd Herrick, and his wife Edna continued the store in the 1940s as a variety and grocery store.  Their nephew Dick Maxam and his wife Martha took over after that.  In 1993 Herrick's Store celebrated its 100th year.  The store was closed and sold in 2006.

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Herrick's Carriage Shop  by Marie Fisher
This building is a very old business structure.  It has suffered the effects of more than one fire in its lifetime.  This accounts for the present flat roof.  The date the building is not known, but, in 1871, a livery stable was being operated here by Bennett and Palmer.  In 1893, Simeon and James Herrick, brothers, purchased the building and carried on a wagon-building trade and carriage repair shop.  In 1896, the brother converted the upper story into living quarter for their families.  The property has been owned by the Herrick family for the past eighty years.

As the carriage trade became obsolete, the brothers gradually converted to wallpaper, paint, hardware, custom picture-framing and, during World War II, groceries were added and have remained the major commodity.
Simeon died in 1934, and had some years previous, withdrawn from the business and engaged in carpentry.  James died in 1953.  During his later year, his sones took over the active management of the business. 



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