Whitcomb’s: A Community Space

The Evolution of Whitcomb’s Garage — from 1920 to today

In the1920s, Gordon Whitcomb opened a garage on the site, then also occupied by a gristmill and general store. A fire in 1926 destroyed the other buildings but the garage survived.. The original building was expanded by Gordon’s son Clarence “Narni” Whitcomb in the 1950s. Narni also sold used cars, auto parts, and gas. Whitcomb’s Garage was a gathering spot for the community and was also a regular destination for local kids who bought candy and other snacks there.

The garage closed in the late 1990s and the building sat mostly empty and deteriorating. In 2018, a generous donation gave the Grange the opportunity to purchase the building and the 1.5 acre greenspace on the Boquet River that the building sits on. With an amazing team of volunteers and the support of several foundations and many contributors, Whitcomb’s has been reborn with workshops, a retail store, and community room for small events, exhibitions, classes and more. Read more about the project HERE.

Today, the old garage has been transformed, inside and out. Four businesses now have workshops in the building: Boquet Forge, New Moon Pottery, Sojen Design, and The Hemlock Apologist. The central section is now an art gallery and community space, open for residents and visitors to hang out, work, have small meetings, and enjoy. The gallery hosts exhibitions and artist talks, and the space is also used for a weekly music jam, discussion groups, and small events. In back of the building is a public park on the Boquet River with wildflower meadows, a riverwalk, and beautifully landscaped perennial gardens.

Stop by and see the latest show in the Gallery, visit the artisans’ shops, or have a picnic under the trees!