Age of Aquarius

Nestled in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains, just two hours away from New York City, is a little piece of Americana. Vassmer's General Store is one of a dying breed in our country. It has been referred to as a dinosaur. an honest to goodness Mom and Pop store.

Founded in 1901 by John H. Vassmer, a young man fresh off the boat from Germany, it was originally located in the small mining town of Pond Eddy. Seeing that the mines were swiftly becoming a thing of the past, John relocated his business to the small resort community of Kauneonga Lake, NY; located in the town of Bethel.

Vassmer's sold everything from gasoline, hardware and horseshoes, to flour, fabric and pots and pans. At this time in our history, General Stores were the center of the small town communities.

As time passed on, the store changed hands to two of John's sons, Art and Fred. These two brothers had been minding the store for over 50 years.

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This picture take by a good friend,
Mike Kossove.

In 1969, a cosmic event, the likes of which had never been seen before in the world, took place right in this little town, just three miles from Vassmer's General Store, this event became known as the Woodstock Festival. Yes, the famed Woodstock Festival took place in the small town of Bethel, not in Woodstock, NY as many people have been led to believe.

Art and Fred welcomed the droves of young people into their store, allowing ten people in at a time through the doors. The only price raised was a six pack of beer from $1.95 to $2.00 as they were running out of nickels and all checks were accepted. Not a single check bounced! The first items to disappear from the shelves were peanut butter and jelly, thus dubbing Art the "Peanut Butter and Jelly Man" of Woodstock. Art appeared in the documentary movie that hit the big screen entitled "Woodstock". He welcomed all visitors to the store to tell his many stories about what happened on those three incredible days in 1969. He and Fred became known worldwide, appearing in articles in newspapers and magazines as well as film documentaries, all over the world.

The legacy continues as Art's wife and two daughters continue the tradition of managing this little country store, which has added a marina and the Bethel Woodstock Museum to it's assets.
Anyone who lives here year round or just for the summers, know the Vassmer's.

A candy and toy store for the kids, ...groceries and just about anything you might need without driving to Liberty or Monticello. It's the information center of Bethel for years, too! People call from everywhere to ask about the lake, and just about every other kind of question, "Is it frozen yet?" "Did it thaw yet?" "How's the weather up there?" "Anything happening at the Woodstock site this year?" And because the Vassmers live across the road from the fire department, people have asked, "Where's the fire?". No kidding!
The there are the locals, especially the guys in the morning. Sitting in the front of the store, drinking their coffee, reading the paper and gabbing. The conversation might be about the weather, the fire they just came back from or when they were kids in the town. Many times they speak about the wars they served in or what they're going to do today.

The store is still open 7 days a week, closing only for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. All are welcome. When you come in, be prepared to listen to the many stories that the family will has to share, with the many visitors and newcomers to the town, about that eventful weekend in 1969. That incredible unforgettable event known as Woodstock.
Here at Vassmer's you can find more than just the items on the shelves, you can find the memories of all those who passed through the doors from days gone by. Vassmer's General Store is a warm family atmosphere that all can enjoy.

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