The General Store and Post Office

The General Store and Post Office was built in 1896 by Herbert Emmons, who bought the lot from Frazier Paige. This building is the most recent commercial structure on the common.

Mr. Emmons had been a clerk and postmaster in neighboring stores since 1892. In 1897, he became the agent for the Barre Domestic and Custom Laundry, and in 1900, he extended the building to accommodate the post office.

The laundry agency is long gone, but the post office remains and is still active. In 1921, Emmons sold the story to Harry Bingham, who celebrated 25 years of ownership in 1946. Two years later, he sold it and the post office to Lorenzo Blackmer. Wayne and Ruth Goddard owned and ran the post office and store from 1953 until 1985 when Robert and Jean McLean bought it. Since 2000 there have been a number of owners and the general store section has become an eatery.

Now known as Mimi’s Coffeehouse, it is a wonderful community-gathering spot right on the Hardwick Common.