Background

​Talk to Peacham resident Lorna

Quimby, she’ll tell you about an old

New England tradition people called

Store Court. 

Retired farmers congregated at the village store,
played checkers, mulled over the news. Chewed soda
crackers and mulled over the gossip.

You could say that’s when the story of
Peacham Café begins.

For most of Peacham’s history, there have been stores
in town, there’ve been taverns.  The village was a hub
of activity.

Then population shrank. Cars were invented. 
Big stores and restaurants opened in bigger towns. 
Stores and restaurants closed in smaller towns,
like Peacham. In 2001, for instance, the popular
Bayley Hazen Store in South Peacham closed. 
It was the last of its kind.

People asked, “What can we do?”

A group of residents responded. They linked with
the non-profit Peacham Community Housing, Inc.
(PCH). PCH was looking to expand its mission, to
include not just local housing, but services for seniors. 
They began planning how to open a store and/or café
in town. Townspeople responded, voting over-
whelmingly to give the former, historic Town Office
building and adjacent barn (former Union Store)
to PCH – so the town would once again have a
restaurant or store.

The rest of the story, in a nutshell:

2006  Town of Peacham votes to give Peacham
Community Housing (PCH) an historic building in
town center for purpose of opening a store/gathering place.

2007  Preservation Trust of Vermont awards PCH a grant to do structural analysis of barn
(former store). Vermont Community Foundation awards grant for architectural plans.

2011  Preservation Trust of Vermont and Freeman Foundation commit $40,000 to renovate barn based on original 19th-century Union Store storefront. Legal Liability Corporation (LLC) comprised of Peacham residents (pictured at left) created to carry out renovation and open community-supported café/store.

2012  LLC develops business plan and searches for wastewater solution.

2013  Wastewater solution found. Neighbors Jean Clark and Kempton Farms agree to let PCH
use their land for a system. 

2013  Fundraising begins.  Local family donates $25,000 on condition that equal amount is raised from other local donors.

September 1, 2013  $101,000 raised toward $160,000 goal, enough to begin work. Permitting process begins. 

Summer 2014 With your financial support, Peacham Café opened!

Our Fundraising Story