Five Families
Built in 1883, the Hainesville General Store was owned and operated by Mr. James M. Stoll. Specializing in dry goods, farming equipment, fertilizer, and dairyman supplies, HGS provided for the needs of farms that sustained a newly settled community. The store remained in the Stoll family for many years before being sold to Bruno and Mary Benna in 1945.
Originally located on what is now Layton-Hainesville Road, the store was erected directly 300 feet behind its current location. On June 7, 1951 the entire building was moved on giant timber skids that were greased with “25 cakes of white soap”. Without shifting a can, bottle, or box from its shelves, the store was slowly inched onto its new foundation. Rumor has it that Mr. Benna remained open for business and patrons would climb into the front door as the shop was enroute. Portions of these skids remain in the store’s basement to this day.
Once the Bennas retired, HGS was sold to Jim DeGennaro who, like the Stolls and Bennas before him, resided on the second floor of the store with his family. In addition to continuing small town general store traditions, the DeGennaros operated a local weather station on site. It was here that the coldest temperatures on record for the region were recorded at -32 degrees giving the area the nickname the “icebox of Sussex County”.
