A.L.R. Gardner Store, Dennysville, Maine, around 1900.
In 1871, A.L.R. Gardner began operating a general store where a Union store had previously stood on the banks of the Dennys River. He was assisted by two of his four sons, Edwin R. and Fred L. In addition to handling the usual merchandise of a county store, the Gardners were dealers of coal, grain, stoves, shingles (pine, spruce and cedar), farm implements, as well as crockery, agateware, and even fine Austrian china. Also, during the summer months, there was a soda fountain. Following the death of their father in 1902, the sons took responsibility for the business, first Edwin, and then, after his death in 1918, Fred became clerk, treasurer and manager, while his brother Charles served as president. Fred's son Louis continued the business after his father died in 1944, assisted by Max Gardner and Norman Crosby making deliveries by truck. The store was eventually closed and the building razed in 1961. Hay scales were built near Gardner's Store in 1892. Granite was brought from Red Beach by the Charlie Ross for the foundation, supplemented by rocks from Bela Anthony's place. At about five year intervals, the scales required repairs, sometimes on the wall, but more often on the frame and platform Some of the repairmen were Ned Sheahan, James Robinson, Stephen Dudley, Isaac and Ross Wilder, and Willis Leighton. In 1924 the Pushee Brothers put a new frame around the scales, and in 1930 Mel Hayward made the last recorded repairs on them. Evidence of the Red Beach granite is still on the site. In his journal entry for March 28, 1908, Fred Gardner gave the history of the Samuel L. Jones shop, as follows: "Ed Hayward began tearing down the Stephen Jones shop (so called) situated at the right of the water course on the river side, nearly in front of the house. At different times and long before my time, it has been occupied as a house, a man named Steadman had traded there, John Green had a tailor's shop there, J. HInkley a tin shop, T. Robinson a fish stand, and so on. We have used it for a storehouse. It was unsightly and got out of repair so we have removed it."
Dennys River Historic PhotographsPhotos for Map
