Windyville General Store
The store was built in 1913 by Mr. Bennett. It is said that once the store was built, the men gathered on the porch and tried to come up with a name for the town. When nothing could be decided, Mr. Bennett said “you sure are a windy bunch with all this hot air blowing around.” That struck a common cord and Windyville was thus named.
In 1920, Mr. Bennett sold the store to Oceander Scott and Herbert . The new owners began to expand the business by adding a feed store. They traded with local farmers for the produce which was sold in the store. The also traded with local hunters and traders for furs and animals caught in their traps. In 1921, the post office moved into one side of the store.
The Scott’s operated the store for 45 years until finally retiring in 1960. The store set empty until 1975, when it was purchased by Mr. and Mrs, Dozier. The Doziers would work 10 hour days in the store, for 7 days a week. The added and maintained a gas pump in the front.
In 1988, Jeff and Linda Buckley purchased the store. Linda was a history buff and loved the history of the store. Linda’s mother Dorthy, took over the store in 1992, and soon became a town favorite among the citizens, and many still speak of her. In 1998, the store closed again.
In 1999, the store was reopened by Ernie and Tereasa Padilla. It is unsure when the store closed by these owners.
In 2017, Katie Heflin started the renovation and restoration of the store. In 2018, the store was reopened as Windyville Cozy Cottage LLC.
Canning Barn
In the 1920’s, with the help of his uncle, Arch Scott, Herbert built a tomato canning factory behind the Windyville General Store. They operated the cannery together until Arch moved his family to Colorado, then Herbert operated it by himself, off and on, for a few years.
They contracted with many local farmers to buy their tomatoes. Willie Bennett had a huge tomato patch down by the river. Early Hildebrand had a large patch as well as other farmers in the area. Many of the local women went to work in the factory where they were paid 5 cents for a bucket of peeled tomatoes.