When Harrison H. McClellan established his general store in New Philadelphia, in Franklin Township, in 1866 he was just back from the war and newly married to Margaret Bare, the daughter of Dr. John R. Bare. McClellan built a building for the business the next year, in 1867, and he and his growing family lived . . . not exactly over the store, but in a cabin behind it. Soon they built a two-story house in Victorian style next to the store. (That's Harry at the right end of the group on the store porch in the photo above.) Harry and Maggie McClellan had two daughters, Mary and Edith. Harry became the postmaster of New Philadelphia when the post office was moved from Arch Mount's house just up the street to the McClellan store. After Harry died in 1913 his widow was appointed postmistress, and when she died the position, and the store, passed to her daughter, Edith Wiggs, and then to Edith's daughter, Helen DeJean. That's probably Helen standing on the porch of the McClellan house. Helen married Louis DeJean in 1915. After she died in 1974 Louis finally closed the doors. In all the store operated for 107 years. The store wasn't finished, though. In 1980 it was moved to the grounds of the Pioneer Village at the Stevens Museum. There it is, shorn of its imposing false front, but with H. H. McClellan's name still up over the door. (11/06/02) Back | Home