A Must-See: Historic George Marshall Store in York, Maine
Whether you were passing through beautiful York, Maine, or are a resident, you could always count on one store to have everything you needed. It was a general store with just about everything in it, especially groceries.
This store was the true definition of a store for all people. It provided comfort and food for generations of Mainers both inland and along the coast.
George A. Marshall was a businessman from York, Maine. He was interested in providing supplies to his county for residents and builders. So, in 1867 he purchased the Hancock-Donnell Warehouse and land by the York River.
If the name sounds familiar, it's because John Hancock, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, had a monetary interest in the building and land, according to the Old York Historical Society.
Marshall's family successfully ran the G.A. Marshall's Old Line Store for 87 years, built adjacent to the Hancock-Donnell Warehouse, keeping it in the family, and selling wood, coal ,and groceries. It was the main source of goods for years in the small coastal town of York, which provided a major water route on the York River.
When George Marshall's Store closed its doors in 1954, it was a sad day for the people of York. Another original establishment was meeting it's demise in the fast changing post-World War II era. The store at 140 Lindsay Road was closing, but the entrepreneurial spirit would live on.
Since then, the store has been a gift shop, offices, and historical research library. But in 1996, curator Mary Harding turned the historic building into a contemporary art gallery for New England artists, which has been thriving for 27 years. Harding retired in 2020, but the gallery is still a highlight for art lovers across the country visiting Maine.
GeorgeMarshallStoreGallery.com says Kate Rasche is the current Director at the Gallery. Stop by on your next visit to beautiful York, Maine.
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