About Us
Back at the turn of the century, the C.W. Williamson family built and operated a general store ontop of a plateau of the Allegheny Mountains in Somerset County along Route 30 in the village ofBuckstown. At that time Route 30 was not a paved highway as it was used mostly for horse and buggies and wagons.
Being that the store is a large, well-constructed building, the Williamsons made their home in a part of it, as did families in the years ahead.
The Williamsons owned the store until the
mid-1930s, when Mr. and Mrs. Harry Landis, who at the time lived in Central City, purchased the store from C.W. Williamson. Approximately 10 years later, the Landis' daughter Helen, married to Jack Spangler, took over the business and operated it as Spangler's Grocery Store until 1971, when Jim and Carole Duppstadt purchased it from the Spanglers and now operate it under the name of Duppstadt's Country Store.The Duppstadts now operate it as a family business and try to keep the decor much like it was at the turn of the century. In 1971 when the Duppstadts purchased the store from the Spanglers, the main items that were sold were groceries. In the 1930s, it was advertised as a Clover Farm Store. The Spanglers also sold hunting and fishing supplies and during the Christmas season, a nice selection of bulk candy.
Since 1971, with the Lord's blessing and many long hours from family and good dedicated help, we now have a full line of groceries, fresh lunch meats, maple syrup, apple butter, produce, buckwheat flour and of course, during the Christmas season, the bulk candy.
In 1974 there was some extra room made to carry a good selection of western boots, work shoes, winter boots, moccasins and other items. For the quilters and home sewers, a nice selection of cotton fabrics and supplies were added, and also hickory rocking chairs, sheep skins, western wear, leather and gift items, and fishing and hunting licenses and supplies.
In 1979 in a small garage behind the store, the Duppstadts' son Mark opened up a chain saw and small engine repair shop, where he sold Stihl chain saws and did all types of repairs.
In 1985 along with Mark's brother, Matthew, they enlarged the saw shop and added a lawn and garden shop, where they sold Snapper mowers, tillers and garden supplies.
In 1986, a cross country ski sales and rental shop was added for people of the area to enjoy the beautiful outdoors of a Somerset County winter but was later discontinued.
We have striven to keep in operation with an atmosphere of pleasant surroundings that hopefully brings back memories to those who stop in of years gone by, when one could purchase anything from calico fabric to work shoes to penny candy treats. We have so much to offer and we truly are an old-fashioned country store.
Everyone of our employees is "country folks," and we are sure just by stopping in, you will get that down-home country feeling. We are located in the southwestern part of Pennsylvania, high on a plateau in Somerset County along U.S. Route 30 between Stoystown and Reels Corner, in the village of Buckstown. On a clear day, one can see seven miles away, and during the fall foliage season it is a very delightful drive. Stop in. We are open seven days a week.
