Purchased by auction in the mid 1950's, the Abington General Store grew, and quickly became the focal point of this small natural farming community. The store has always been host to a vast array of products including all types of general merchandise, housewares, hardwares, boots, clothes, along with the best fresh meats and produce around. For many years, the campgrounds around the town thrived, supporting Walter and Lillian Rucki with a delivery route that served them and many local home owners who needed their goods not only dropped off, but often put away for them. With the firehouse across the street, Walter served the town for years as a volunteer, and stoically kept the lot plowed of snow and free of ice. He truly was the unofficial "dispatcher", always quick to respond and paid great attention to detail. Many times the Ladies Auxilliary was known to help out in those late night emergancy calls, picking up supplies and hot coffee at the store, no matter the hour, for the fire crew out on the dangerous fire calls.

     Growing up at the store, Walter's son John, current owner, can remember picking up 1000 lb blocks of ice with his Dad from the Deary Brothers milk plant in Putnam, loading them into the back of the 1950's Chevy panel truck, and cutting it by hand when back at the store. Campers lined up would buy so much ice, that there would not be any left for the freezers. Sides of beef would be brought from Bradley Beef House in Putnam, fresh off the rail cars, to hang in the walk-in coolers for cutting that week. City workers would gather at the store parking lot daily somehow designating the old General Store an unofficial stop for the Barstow Bus Company, picking up for the day shift at Pratt & Whitney. Rolls and rolls of film would be dropped at the store for delivery to Grube's Camera Shop, also in Putnam, for developing and then picked up again, pictures of small town America for the locals' photo albums.

    Townsfolk can probably recall Abby Hollbrook making her daily trek to the Abington Post Office, then spending a majority of her day stacking shelves at the store, just helping out. Also, how a baby alligator arrived by mail at the Abington Post Office, run by Toni Kent, and how it lived for years in a pink baby-bath tub behind the counter, a sort of "mascot" John named Nikodemous.

    But truth-be-known, most folks stopped by for the finest cuts of meat, cut fresh by the gentlest, kindest meat cutter around, who won even the shy children's hearts by offering a slice of cheese, his well known phrase "Try a piece of the goodest" still echoing in many adults' minds today. Often Lillian would wonder where Walt was as the clock crept close to 11 pm and when confronted, Walt would say he was "just finishin' up."

      In later years, freshly made grinders were added, famous for their use of shredded cabbage, a staple of Walter's Polish heritage.

      Long before the days of NAFTA and chinese dollar stores, general stores like Rucki's supplied whatever a family needed to accomplish their goals and fullfill their needs. Third generation owners since 1988, John & Judi Rucki find the current economic climate very different from that of their forebearers, but still strive to provide fresh produce, groceries in demand, and an ecclectic mix of items for self-sufficient living, taking pride in maintaining an old-fashioned, simpler atmosphere, all while remaining a constant reminder to the locals and toursists alike that small-business built this country.

       - The above history was written in the fall of 2013 by our beloved owner, husband and friend John A. Rucki, and had been initially intended for use in a recently published book entitled Pomfret: Through The Years. Sadly, two things happened in the days that made up November and December of 2013. The history John spent so much time recalling for the town he loved, was omitted from the book, for unknown reasons. And on December 11th, John was called from his earthly home to be with his Lord and Savior. The store will continue to make history and memories for Judi Rucki and her family as they expand into locally made products and a newly added Christian Book Service. All are invited to come in and browse.

This website is dedicated to the memory of Joel E. Williams III, 1946-2013