Rickman's General Store

Rickman’s General Store, a historic part of Macon County, has been bought and sold a few times. The store, then known as the John Hall Store, was first sold to Thomas Rickman in 1925, after W.H. Bryson owned the store for 30 years. Rickman then renamed the store to what it is now known as, which is the Rickman’s General Store. The store stayed in business for another 69 years, until 1994. Rickman died in 1994 at the age of 93, so he ran the store until the year he died. After he died, the store closed down until 13 years later, when the Mainspring Conservation Trust bought it.

The store also doubled as a home for the Rickman family. Above the store there was an apartment area where Thomas Rickman and his wife, Fannie, raised their two children, James and Zena. Thomas’ wife, Fannie, also helped around the store and acted as a manager whenever it was needed. Not only does the Rickman store hold personal memories for the family, it also contains history for the locals in the area.

While the store was still open back in the 1900s, and it was serving customers, it had many purposes and uses. The store stocked eggs, milk, apples, and more staple food items. The store also had things like spools of thread, as well as other household items that might have been needed at the time. In addition to selling these basic items, Thomas Rickman also decided to run a gristmill that lasted for about 20 years. Used in the 19th century, a gristmill grinds cereal grains into flour. He also ran an apple orchard as part of his business. Rickman’s first customer was Mrs. Eva Bryson. His first sale with her was when she traded him three eggs for a spool of thread. Rickman traded items often, like eggs, corn, chickens, ham, chestnuts, and even dried fruit. The store has served its community for many long years, and Rickman will be missed. 

The building is a historic part of the Cowee area. The store still holds the many memories of those who grew up around the area. Mack Brogden, Zena’s son, talks about how he remembers an old Black stove. He still recalls people gathering around the stove to sit out bad weather and cook baloney for him to eat. Another memory is that of Thomas Rickman and how he typically would not keep the store open on a Sunday. But once, during a blizzard, he opened his store because people needed supplies and he was the only one who could provide it to them. Rickman’s General Store has always been a part of the community and it will continue to be one.

Rickman’s is located in the Cowee-West Mill District, which is said to be a National Historic District. After Thomas Rickman died in 1994, the store wasn’t used until 2007, which was when the Mainspring Conservation Trust purchased the store. Mainspring bought Rickman’s with the purpose of it being turned into a place for the community to gather and meet. The Friends of the Rickman Store, a volunteer group, helps out with organizing events and gatherings for the community in the store.

Admin. 2010. “Rickman Sore Celebrates 85 Years.” Smoky Mountain News, March 3,

2010.

https://smokymountainnews.com/archives/item/963-rickman-store-celebrates-85-years 

Macon County News. 2019. “Historic Rickman Store Continues to Serve the

Community.” The Macon County News, May 23, 2019.

https://themaconcountynews.com/historic-rickman-store-continues-to-serve-the-community/ 

Mainspring Conservation Trust. 2018. “The Rickman Store.” Accessed April 29, 2021.

https://www.mainspringconserves.org/be-a-mainspring/properties/the-rickman-store/