visit -h.n. williams store

Have written about Williams' store before, but stopped by last weekend and took some shots. Pics pretty much speak for themselves. Billy Brownlee is the young man keeping the traditions alive there. Place is a must-see. Bonus, the Dorset Farmers Market abutts the store on summer Sundays. The place is a mass of made in USA and particularly VT-made products. Huge Johnson Woolen Mills selection. Separate ladies department too. Didn't even shoot the Carhartt areas... trust me, selection is huge. Further reading.

Billy also gave me the straight dope on finding the older cut of Carhartt pants. Look for the coin pocket seam. The old (better, no doubt, well known, why did they change...) pairs have the seam right up against the waistband seam as below right (newer pair on the left).



H.A. Spear & Sons Gloves. Made in Essex Jnct, VT.



Work glove heaven...



Walking Boss Supenders. Made in Bloomfield, VT.
Maybe the last three two Carhartt camo hoods around... I already have mine.

h.n. williams store -dorset, vt

The physical refurb of the H.N. Williams store in Dorset, VT is about a year young now... (the custom railings by Dan Mosheim and Dorset Custom Furniture are a real standout -shots below via their blog). The news though is that Billy Brownlee is getting a store website started/finalized, and has been working on the historic portion as much as the 'goods' which is nice to see. (site not live as of yet)

The family business began in 1840 when William Williams expanded his tannery business on Route 30 in Dorset to include the sale of shoes, boots, and leather harnesses. Grandson Herbert later changed the name to H.N. Williams Department Store, adding bicycles, sleighs and wagons to the burgeoning numer of items customers might find in the old store. -Paraphrased from Vermont Independent Alliance of Country Stores.

I have mentioned the Williams store before, and as well as a great resource for boots, denim, syrup, coffee, grain, hardware, jerky...(if we dont have it you dont need it type of place) it has a great back-story, with Billy using his marketing degree to return to the family business, sensitively updating it (wireless register at the outdoor barn sale for instance...) while also preserving the feel. If you are in southern Vermont, it is a must stop.

felt crusher

A New England fave with the old boys, and the blaze orange is perfect in case you need to walk in the woods come late autumn. Re-introduced by Lexington Outdoors, the site really says it best...

"These hats were made of tough boiled wool felt and worked great in any weather. You could fold it up, stuff it in your back pocket and pull it out when you needed it. They kept their shape and definitely were way more than a fashion statement in the woods of Maine. This was THE HAT you wore when you went in the woods to hunt, fish or work. It took a while to track down the original maker, and we are proud to bring back this legend of the north country. Still made in America and still a must-have piece of gear for anyone who works or plays in the great outdoors. You'll love this hat. Ken Johnson, Lexington Outdoors, Inc."

Also available via Johnson Woolen Mills. I got mine at the home of all good things, H.N. Williams in Dorset, VT.

guilty pleasure -carhartt hoods

Carhartt hoods. Love picking these up. The old camo pattern is out of production but H.N. Williams store in Dorset, VT still has them (and tons of other treasures). Snap on a hood and take your Detroit jacket to another level. With a little digging (i.e. ebay) you can always find a finsh (duck, sandstone, extreme) and lining; arctic (black or even better discontinued red), or blanket lined to match. That's not too matchy-matchy is it??

carhartt -williams' store

Having some fun at H.N. Williams store in Dorset, VT. These guys have a couple of floors of Carhartt workwear, also deadstock Pointers, hunting gear, felt crushers, boots, tools, coffee, chew..."if they dont have it..." etc.