After 160 years, J.A. Muzzy's closes
By BOB AUDETTE, Reformer Staff

JAMAICA -- For most of his life, Allen Monroe has walked the old wooden floors of the J.A. Muzzy Co. hardware store on Main Street in Jamaica, keeping company with the ghosts of 160 years worth of customers. 

On Saturday morning, a handful of Jamaicans turned out to sip coffee one last time, munch on cupcakes and wish Monroe a fare thee well. Later that day, Monroe locked up the store for the last time.

If a person were to sneak into the building late at night, whispers of conversations past might be heard, speaking of tools, nuts and bolts, light bulbs, paint and myriad other items that have been stocked on the shelves over the years. But if you were to listen even harder, you might hear the history of Jamaica -- a story of Merino sheep, the West River Railroad, farms and logging camps, mills and dams. 

What you won't hear anymore is the lively discussion that for years was the main reason that many of the town's residents gave for stopping in and poking around while enjoying a free cup of coffee. J.A. Muzzy's was the place to go to discuss politics and the latest gossip, to share farming or household tips or to just sit and watch as the lost weekenders drove by with deer-in-the-headlights eyes. 

"I'll miss the contact with the people," said Monroe, about his impending retirement. 

While Monroe said he was going to miss the easy conversation of the store, he wasn't going to miss working behind the register. "I was ready to get out of here," he said. 

While it's easy to understand Monroe's mixed emotions, many of those who stopped by one last time said the feeling a person got while in Muzzy's will never be replaced. 

"It was always quite exciting to come in here," said Rick Hube, Jamaica's state representative in Montpelier. 

Muzzy's was the home of "real dear friends," said Hube, reading from a resolution he plans to present for approval during the 2009 legislative session. 

"The Muzzy-Allen Monroe family's civic and commercial leadership in the town of Jamaica began in 1789 when Benjamin Muzzy settled in this Windham County municipality," read Hube. "Family members were among the local bank's incorporators, established an endowment to help families in the area during times of need, and donated the land on which the town's offices and elementary school are located." 

"(Muzzy's) is as much an institution as it is a business," said Hube, after reading the proclamation. 

Abijah Muzzy started the family tradition in 1848, eventually passing the business on to his son, James Muzzy. Monroe took over Muzzy's from his grandfather, Ernest O. Allen, who had been given the store by his father-in-law, James. 

"This is the end of an era," said Peter Andrus, who said conversation at Muzzy's ranged from spreading manure to the pain of paying taxes. 

"Conversation time will be sorely missed," said Skip Woodruff, a maker of rustic furniture. For Woodruff, having Muzzy's just around the corner meant not having to make trips to Londonderry, Manchester or Brattleboro for a piece of hardware to finish a chair or table. 

"I could just zoom over here at a moment's notice." 

For Kathy Coleman, Muzzy's was the place her husband went to when she kicked him out of the house. 

"It got (Ralph) out of my hair in the morning," she said with a laugh. 

"I remember when Allen's grandfather and grandmother used to live here," said Catherine Dauchy, who attended the going-out-of-business party with her sister Irene Smith. 

The sisters reminisced about those long ago days when the store was stocked with barrels of crackers, rounds of cheese and oysters once a week. 

"We're really going to miss it," said Dauchy. 

"It's sad to see it go," said Selectboard member Oliver Olsen. "On the other hand, Allen deserves some fishing." 

Monroe's girlfriend, Kelley Murray, said his decision was a tough one, but a welcome decision nonetheless. 

"He's been doing it for so many years," she said. "Now he's anticipating a new life." 

That new life, she said, includes fishing, hiking, reading and photography. 

"It was a hard decision," said Monroe. "I was thinking about it a long time." 

Monroe was thinking about listing the building with a local real estate agent when he was approached by a pair of local glassworkers, Hank and Toby Schwartz, who offered to buy the building from him. 

For Peter Andrus, losing Muzzy's is a sad commentary on how small towns are changing. 

"This is what's happening to New England villages," he said. "When you lose something like this, the sense of community can disappear."
 
 
 

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