Coburn’s Store Turns 30!

By John Freitag

Coburn’s General Store is the heart of Strafford. It is not only the commercial center, with a store, bank, and post office, all within its walls, but also the place where people catch up on what is going on. Often on weekends, one or another community group is on the porch with a raffle, selling goods or passing out information.

Owners Melvin and Sue Coburn are active in many of these community groups and, along with daughter Crissy Jamieson, are able to answer all kinds of questions and provide all sorts of help.

It was 30 years ago this month that Melvin and his older brother, Phil, took over the store from then-owner Richard Wilson. Phil and Melvin had both worked at the Hanover Co-op and had a good working knowledge of what went into running this type of business. With the help of their spouses, Shelby and Sue, Coburn’s General Store became a success.

Phil eventually retired and now takes it easy, cutting and selling 50 cords of firewood, sugaring, and snowmobiling. He still helps out on Thursdays and on Monday mornings. As Phil phased out of day-to-day work, Crissy has taken on more responsibility.

Phil and Melvin grew up in Strafford and there has always been something special in the way they know all the old timers and have gotten to know many of the newer folk. Coburn’s provides not only goods, but the sustenance for a community. All this month, there have been daily drawings for prizes and on Wednesday, Aug. 29 the Coburns plan a barbecue for all their "wonderful customers."

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