RH Wilson & Son Old Country Store, Williamsport MD

December 2024

I’m blogging about a store?

Yes, well, this is not a typical store. It’s not even a typical “old country” store.

See, when I think of old country store, I imagine a dusty place where you can buy root beer barrels and licorice, a place firmly set in the past.

I walked into the ground floor of RH Wilson & Son to find what at first appeared to be a classic old country store: glass counters, glass jars of candy, bags of pancake mix. But as I got closer I realized it blended old and…newer. The glass cases contained vintage toys and games, and the glass jars held hard candy…but also peanut butter cups, malted milk balls, and other more modern treats. Not Reese’s Cups or Whoppers, either, though some commercial candy was also available. And there were also the staples, but it included things like scone mixes; things I might actually buy. It felt like what an old country store would stock today.

But that’s not all. I perused to the back of the store, then up the winding staircase to a whole other floor full of more general home goods, like sweaters, cushions, and baskets, all carefully arranged to feel well-stocked but not overstuffed. Intriguingly, there weren’t lots of each item; it seemed like much of what they sold was handcrafted in small batches.

Even though I can’t handle much sugar, I left with bags of candies (some as gifts), and everything I got was delicious. I’d like to go again.