One of the first things visitors notice about the Pease Store is its historic charm. Walking through the doors is like stepping back in time—antique oak cabinets, original hardware, and embossed steel ceilings stand as a testament to an era long past, beautifully preserved for all to enjoy.
Built in 1896 by Frank Fay, the ground floor originally housed two businesses: a boot, shoe, and clothing store run by William M. Mullen, and a crockery, stove, and household furnishings store operated by Fay himself, who used the upper two floors as furniture showrooms.
According to a December 31, 1896 article in the Springfield Republican, the newly constructed three-story Fay Building was recognized as “the strongest and most substantial built building of the kind in Western Massachusetts.” Frank Fay, who also served as the town undertaker, had his homestead next door connected to the store, further intertwining his life with the business.
In 1912, Moses Terrill and Charles Pease purchased Mullen’s clothing business, renaming it M.W. Terrill & Company. The store remained under this name until 1928, when Pease became its sole owner, setting the foundation for the Pease Store as it’s known today.
After Frank Fay retired in 1937, he continued selling household furnishings until his passing in 1940. Pease then expanded his clothing business, eventually purchasing the building outright and running it alongside his son, Hewitt.
Many still remember Hewitt Pease—the familiar tick-tick of the antique wall clock as customers entered, the warmth of his service, and his deep ties to the town. A Williams College graduate, WWII Army veteran, and longtime French teacher at Chester High School, Hewitt followed in his father’s footsteps by balancing business with community involvement.
In 1982, the Pease Store found new owners in Diane and John DeMoss, who embraced its heritage and ensured its survival as one of the last remaining “dry goods” stores in the region. For four decades, their dedication mirrored Frank Fay’s legacy, described in a 1940 newspaper as a “friendly man” whose store visits were “a social event as well as a business transaction.”
Now, the Pease Store has come full circle. In 2022, Diane and John DeMoss passed the torch to new owners—the neighboring proprietors of Drowsy Dragon Kitchen, who had also purchased the original Fay homestead. As the store continues to evolve, it remains a vital piece of local history, standing proudly as a tribute to the generations who shaped it.