RESTORING THE BEECHWOOD GENERAL STORE
Investing in the Beechwood Community by Renovating the Beloved Beechwood General Store
ESTABLISHED IN 1820 AND IN OPERATION UNTIL 1974, THE BROWN’S STORE SERVED THE BEECHWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD AS THE LOCAL RESOURCE FOR EVERYTHING FROM PENNY CANDY TO BICYCLE PARTS.
HISTORY OF THE BEECHWOOD GENERAL STORE
The Beechwood neighborhood is tucked away in the southwest corner of Cohasset. Starting in the late 1800s and well into the 1900s, Beechwood was a small, self-sufficient community unto itself with its own library, school, church, fire station and general store.
The Brown Family owned the general store in Beechwood for almost a century. Brothers Aaron and John Pratt were the first proprietors of the Beechwood general store, which was known as Brown’s Store. The brothers sold it to Ezra Brown, who sold it to William Webster Bates who sold it to Herbert Brown. After Herbert Brown, his son E. Harold Brown managed the store.
The Beechwood Congregational Church was started on the second floor of the Brown’s General Store in 1863. According to Merle Brown, dances and other events were held on the second floor of the store in the late 1800s.
Some of the goods Brown’s Store carried included shoes, hardware, bicycle parts, gas, oil, penny candy, and cold cuts sliced to order. Brown’s Store went out of business in the late 1970s.
RESTORING BEECHWOOD’S HISTORIC PAST AND PRESERVING HISTORY
We are proud to be partnering with Hoadley Martinez Architects of Cohasset to bring the new Beechwood General Store to life.
PROPRIETERS
Lilly and Joe Sestito are the driving forces behind the restoration of the Beechwood General Store. Both born and raised in Cohasset, they are currently raising 3 children in this beautiful coastal community. Lilly and Joe are the owners of JJ’s Dairy Hut, an icon in the community since 1956, and Sestito Landscaping, one of the oldest landscaping businesses in Cohasset. Lilly is also a successful realtor with William Ravies and the beloved singer for many weddings and funerals at St. Anthony's Parish and serves as the Cantor for the church. The Sestitos are woven into the fabric of their hometown through their unwavering commitment to many local events and charities including the Cohasset Historical Society and they are excited to rebuild this incredible historical landmark.
