WESTON, Vt. – The Vermont Country Store’s deep roots in Vermont have long been intertwined with the state’s history. That connection has been officially recognized by the Vermont Division of Historic Preservation in a new Vermont Roadside Historic Marker that was recently installed in front of the store in Weston, along Route 100, one of the most popular roadways frequented by travelers visiting the Green Mountain State.
The marker, one of 335 scattered along highways and byways throughout Vermont, tells of The Vermont Country Store’s humble beginning as a mail-order business founded by Vrest and Mildred Orton during Christmas 1945, with a catalog Vrest printed in his garage print shop. The couple then purchased and restored a long-abandoned building in Weston, modeling it after the store owned by Vrest’s father Gardner Lyman Orton in North Calais, Vt., and opened it to the public in 1946. This store is listed in the National Register of Historic Places as the first fully restored country store in the United States, and has been in continuous operation for nearly 80 years as one of the most beloved destinations in Vermont.
“Our family has long been champions of preserving Vermont’s history, heritage, and traditions. With our father Lyman leading the way, we are carrying on the passion instilled in us as young boys that began with our grandfather Vrest,” said Eliot Orton, who, along with his brother Gardner and father Lyman, are proprietors of The Vermont Country Store. “He and Earle W. Newton, Walter Hard, and Ralph Nading Hill founded the Vermont Historic Sites Commission in 1946, and were instrumental in reviving interest in preserving the rich history of our state.
“Having Vrest’s work come full circle by recognizing our family business is a true honor that is deeply meaningful to us,” said Orton. “Our business is a reflection of what makes Vermont special – its landscape, its community, its independent spirit, its resilience, and its people. Our customers often come to know Vermont through us, and we take great pride in offering them amazing products and an exceptional experience that represent the best of Vermont.”
The Vermont Country Store will celebrate its 80th anniversary in 2026, and continues to operate entirely in Vermont. Since its founding, the company has grown to include its historic store in Weston, and a second in Rockingham, Vt., that opened in 1968; a restaurant, now known as Mildred’s Table, that first opened in 1960; and seasonal dairy bars in each location. The Vermont Country Store’s catalogs are distributed nationwide, and they operate an online store that went live in 2000. Now in its third generation of ownership, the Orton family looks forward to eventually passing the family business to a fourth generation of Orton proprietors.