The Vermont Country Store

 Last year when we went East on vacation, I briefly mentioned stopping in Vermont and picking up my friend Buffalo Bob on our way down to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. We spent several days in Vermont looking around, and Buff knew all the local areas for miles around. Amongst the places we visited was the famous Vermont Country Store. Perhaps you've been there yourself or received one of their catalogues in the mail. I don't know if they still do mail order, I guess they sell primarily on line now.

Anyway, I happened to be thinking of things from my childhood the other day, and one of the things I recall was Chum Gum. It was bubble gum, but it came in sticks like regular chewing gum. I think you used to be able to buy it in a pack of three, I'm not sure. Anyway, it was by far the best bubble gum on the market, sweet and soft and chewy. Like most bubble gum, the flavor didn't last very long, but it was sure satisfying while it lasted. Unfortunately, the company that made it discontinued it back in the seventies. I was hoping the Vermont Country store would have it, but no such luck.

They do, however, carry old favorites like Clove, Beeman's and another of my favorites, Black Jack licorice gum. Of course it all costs much more than it did when I was a kid, but it's nice to see that there is still somewhere that a person can purchase a bit of childhood history. They also carry some candies that were popular in the sixties, Skybar candy bars, which had four different flavors in one candy bar, Necco wafers, Dad's root beer barrels and Chuckles jelly candies.

Of course candy and gum aren't all that they sell. They carry everything from curtains to home made jam. They have clothes, kitchen ware, lawn chairs, bedding and toys that you probably haven't seen in years if you're my age, and of course my kids never saw them nor did they even know they existed. They have pot holder kits, for making pot holders, those were always popular. I don't know how many pot holders my mom had in assorted colors, no doubt dozens. I assume they worked, I don't recall her ever complaining about burning her hands on any hot pots. They also have in stock Dick and Jane reading books; every child in first or second grade learned how to read with Dick and Jane, and don't forget Baby Sally and Spot the dog. It seems like there was a cat too, but it didn't garner much attention. There are magnetic art boards for sale. It consisted of a white steel board that you used to put plastic letters or numbers or even things like houses or cars with magnets on the back to make them stick. When I was young, it didn't take much to entertain us. Of course there is only so much you can do with a magnetic art board. For the girls there was the Mystery Date Game. I'm not sure what that was about, but it apparently appealed to the young ladies of the day

Amongst the personal care items that are available is Old Goat Botanical Bath Soap. I wonder if an old goat is the same as an old fart? Either way, I guess you could still use the soap. They have Silver Savior soap, conditioner and shampoo, and even carry hot water bottles with flannel covers. When I was growing up every household had a hot water bottle. Apparently it had a variety of uses.  My older daughter's  boyfriend mentioned that when his folks had left the house one day, he got in to his parents bedroom and pulled the hot water bottle out from under the bed. He filled it full of Kool-aid and was giving kids a drink from it, squirting it into their mouths. He was about to refill and and refresh some more of his friends when his folks came home and put an end to his adventure.  Adults have a way of putting a kabosh on a kids fun.

I hope you get a chance to peruse the on line Vermont Store Catalogue, I'm sure you'll find something of interest. They do carry hot water bottles, so perhaps you could think of a new and exciting use for them. If you discover one, drop me a line.