Fiske’s General Store
One of the joys of exploring small New England towns is discovering places that have served their communities for generations. In the center of Holliston, Fiske’s General Store has been doing just that since 1863. Founded by James Ferdinand Fiske during the Civil War, the store originally sold hats, caps, trunks, valises, and travel goods. It even served as a place where customers could purchase railroad and steamship tickets, reflecting a time when rail travel was opening New England to commerce and adventure. As Holliston grew, so did the store, gradually evolving into the community’s true general store.
Its familiar slogan, “Most Everything,” couldn’t be more fitting. Today, the shelves are filled with greeting cards, gift wrap, toys, puzzles, games, seasonal decorations, arts and crafts supplies, home goods, and, of course, the famous penny candy that has delighted generations of children. Like the country stores of the nineteenth century, Fiske’s has always adapted to meet the changing needs of the people it serves while maintaining the charm that has made it a local institution.
The store has survived challenges that have ended the lives of many independent businesses. It was rebuilt after an early fire, remained in the Fiske family for generations, and in 1973 entered a new chapter when John and Carol Paltrineri became its owners. Rather than changing its character, they embraced its history, preserving the welcoming atmosphere that has made Fiske’s a destination not only for Holliston residents but for families throughout the region.
For our family, a trip to Fiske’s became a tradition. Erin especially loved stopping by to fill a bag with penny candy, carefully choosing each piece as only a child can. As the years passed, our visits evolved. We came for arts and crafts supplies, wrapping paper for birthdays and holidays, greeting cards, board games, and puzzles that often found their way onto our dining room table. Somehow, every visit ended with something we had planned to buy and several things we hadn’t.
That is the magic of a true general store. It isn’t simply a place to shop—it becomes part of the rhythm of family life. Generations of Holliston residents have walked through these doors.
Standing in front of Fiske’s today, it is remarkable to think that this business has welcomed customers through the Civil War, the arrival of the automobile, two World Wars, the rise of shopping malls, and now the era of online retail. More than 160 years after James Ferdinand Fiske opened his doors, the store continues to remind us that some of the most enduring landmarks are not museums or monuments, but the everyday places that quietly become part of a town’s history.
