Carson's Variety Store - A History Worth Revisiting

The inception of Carson’s dates back to 1907, when owner Genevieve Carson, aka Jane, established the business.  Originally Genevieve Gaudet and a Nova Scotia native, she traveled to Noank and married New Brunswick native Sam Carson.   

Sam died of consumption, leaving the widow with three young children. Like many strong local historical female figures, she persisted by opening Carson’s.  According to Stephen B. Lee’s article in the Noank Historical Society newsletter, Jane got her start by borrowing $15. She purchased mainly gloves to sell to local seafaring workers.  

The first of the three locations was at her home, near the railroad crossing on West Main.  After it was destroyed by a fire, Jane moved her family to the bottom of Main Street at the Latham Chester store location, where she sold mostly beans and pies. 

Around 1918, Jane’s daughter became sick with Typhoid fever.  At the time, the common belief was people at lower elevations were more likely to contract to the disease, so Jane Carson relocated her business for a third and final time to its current location in the Harris-Fowler Cottage.  

Carson’s was originally located in the adjacent house on the same property, then shifted to the street front property.  Eventually, the building was remodeled in 1995 by current owner Dave Blacker.  

The store, perhaps best known for its penny candy and ice cream, at one time or another had a soda fountain, meals, newsstand and infinite odds and ends such as Chinese finger traps, cap guns and rabbit’s feet.

When Jane died in 1935, her son Bernard Carson along with wife Catherine, ran the store from 1973, when Carson’s fan and Noank local Roy Nelson purchased and ran the business until 1978. 

Avon resident Dave Blacker eventually purchased the business and renovated keeping to the original concept.  In an article written by David Barron, Genevieve Plumstead agreed Blacker was able to keep the “friendly New England country store” feeling.  

Today at Carson’s, residents can experience what the era once was with the added benefit of modern convenience and organic food.  One can still pick up a paper, buy local creamery ice cream and hand pick penny candy.

A tribute written for Jane’s death by Lizzie Doyle still hangs inside Carson’s below her portrait reading, “In loving memory of Jane Carson - none knew her but to love her.  Unassuming she spent her life in a manner which could be an example to all.”

Mary Anderson, curator of the Noank Historical Society comments, “There were a lot of other stores in Noank when Genevieve started her store. She was not the only business.  But I think the important part is it’s still here today and it’s still here because the modern personalities have carried it on.”