This is the original store building called the Depot Store which was built by Chauncey Skinner in 1875. The building was raised a year later 4 or 5 feet in the air to be even with the new street level.
The original J.B. Colton's Hardware building.
On the other side of town there is the second storage building used for storing lumber.
The picture above is one of J.B Colton's storage units mainly used to store lumber. It is located behind J.B Colton's main store building.
J.B Colton's Hardware and Department store has changed by evolving as a business and building. Initially, J.B Colton’s was built in 1875. Then shortly after, in 1876, the building was raised up another four or five feet and a granite cellar was built. Additionally, when J.B Colton’s was first founded it was called the Depot Store instead of what is now known as J.B Colton’s. In the history of Orleans, Vermont there have been lots of fires. One example is when J.B Colton’s burned down in 1945, and then was rebuilt and remodeled soon after. Throughout its history Colton’s has also switched owners multiple times. It recently changed owners in 2018, and hundreds of employees have come and gone over the years. In conclusion those are some of the ways that J.B Colton’s has evolved over time as a building and a business.
This is the modern day J.B Colton's. Click the link to see more!
Check out our timeline and video of some major events of J.B Colton's history.