Newsletter - May

     May is here and in Heuvelton we are all opening our windows to let warm breezes in.  Laundry hangs on lines and flowers are pushing hard to break through dry ground.  Spring always starts in March here as cold wet dreary days. But by May 1^st it’s all blue skies and sunshine-well for the most part.  At Pickens General Store we are so excited about the good weather, we have taken our windows completely out.  May brought a new step in our restoration process in which all the windows have been removed from the second and third stories to be refurbished.  Paint colors are being picked and the store has been rearranged inside to make ready for interior construction projects.  Everyone is busy here now. 

     The Amish have begun preparing fields while Heuvelton Central school athletes have been active on fields of a different sort.  Nightly you can hear the cheers of fans watching Baseball, Softball, and men’s and women’s Lacrosse games at the school.  The walkers, runners, bikers and skaters are out and the local ice cream shop across the street from Pickens General Store is a great treat in the evenings.  With a new bridge project in the works on our main street, as well as two new stores in Heuvelton, and the continuing restoration of Pickens General Store, it looks like Heuvelton is in for some real excitement this summer! 

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     Mr. Pickens wants to remind you that Fathers day is quickly approaching.  Help your dad rest this Father’s Day with a new rocker from Pickens General.  We carry rockers in all shapes and sizes from rustic unfinished cedar and bentwood hickory for the “outdoorsy” dad or oak shaker and mission style rockers for “keep-it-simple” dads. 

     For more active dads we have camping and outdoor gear from Coleman as well as handcrafted gun cabinets for the hunting dads.  And don’t forget the New Hope Mills pancake mixes for a hearty Father’s Day breakfast with some local maple syrup.

May is National Historic Preservation Month!

The theme for 2009’s National Preservation Month is This Place Matters! Preservation Month is designed to raise awareness about the power historic preservation has to protect and enhance our homes, neighborhoods and communities – the places that really matter to us.

 It provides an opportunity to celebrate the diverse and unique heritage of our countries cities and towns, and enables all of us to become involved in the growing preservation movement.

When you purchase something from Pickens General Store you are supporting this movement as our funds go to the Restoration and preservation of Pickens Hall where Pickens General Store is housed. Pickens Hall was built in 1858 by John Pickens.  It was his thought that the building would be the cornerstone of the community not only used as a general store but as a community meeting place and a music hall.

 It is a vision that we carry on today.

                                  This place matters!!!

Planting time is here!

     Spring has definitely sprung in Northern New York. It is always a blessing to watch spring on fold with the brilliant colors, sounds of birds and flowers after such a long winter.

     Farmers, both English and Amish are busy now with field work. Almost anywhere outside of Heuvelton you can see teams of horses pulling plows or wheel harrows as the ground is prepared for planting.  Amish farmers still burn off fields that have dead grass from last year, however that was done prior to the last major rains we have had.  The Amish surrounding Heuvelton still use traditional farming methods using horses and good old fashioned elbow grease.

     At Pickens we have been busy putting together the stock orders for our spring and summer lines. The local carpenter shops that provide us with our furniture are busy as well. We are always interested in searching out new product lines to carry in the store and we rely on your suggestions to assist us in finding those products. In fact a new effort will provide a $10.00 gift certificate to those individuals who introduce us to new products and help us better serve our customers with unique items for living simply.    

     When in Heuvelton, be sure to stop in Pickens and let the children play in the sand box while you have a cup of coffee and rock for a while. Mr. Pickens might even join you.

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Talk To Us!

     Since we are so very new at this whole newsletter process we invite our readers so send in letters, suggestions, ideas, or questions.  Pickens General Store is the central hub to a number of things all taking place in Heuvelton N.Y. including the Heuvelton Historical Association, beautification and rejuvenation of local community and finding the simple joys and rewards of small town living. 

So please share with us by mail at:

PGS Newsletter

C/O Pickens General Store

83 State Street

Heuvelton, NY 13654

*Or by Email at bhebert@pickensgeneral.org.

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