While travelling through rural Maine on a photo trip in 1987, I stumbled upon this old general store in the village of Palmyra. At one time the old store was a place to pick up a few groceries, a newspaper, gas for the pickup, fishing supplies, and work clothes, as well as a bit of village gossip.

But by 1987 this particular general store was fading fast; I recall that inside the musty interior there wasn't much left for sale and a "For Sale" sign hung forlornly in the window. I suspect that the old store is gone by now, replaced by convenience stores and Wal-Mart. Time marches on. Surely the old gas pump has been snatched up by a collector.

I didn't take this photograph just to reminisce--I enjoyed the look of the place. I loved how the owner had painted the store brilliant red, which tied together the signs, gas pump, and phone booth in an explosion of color.

Lee Rentz