The Wheeler Store (also known as Tillotson and Cushman, Carr and Sons)

A section of the Tillotson and Cushman store was built in 1804 by Daniel Wheeler and added onto by his brother John in 1806. Although the Wheeler family owned the store until 1900, there were numerous proprietors including Daniel Frye Tillotson and John Cushman, John Pratt and Robert Carr. In 1900 the store was purchased by Paul Lang, a lawyer who had an office above the store. It was again purchased by Robert Carr in 1907 and in 1946 by Charles Clifford. Like most general stores, this enterprise provided one stop shopping for its customers.

Tillotson and Cushman Account Book

This page out of the Tillotson and Cushman account book, dated September 1866, shows the diversity of goods available such as shoes, coffee and tobacco. The customers are listed on the left side and include the Town of Orford purchasing rice and sugar and Jeremiah Marston purchasing coffee. In-store credit was common, and in the case of farmers, accounts were often paid in goods such as milk and butter.