Folks from the Oxford Hills area who remember Fletcher’s Candy Store will have the opportunity to do just that on Saturday, Nov. 29. And those who don’t remember Fletcher’s will be in for some very sweet treats.

The Norway Historical Society will once again have their own version of Fletcher’s Candy Store at their headquarters located at 471 Main Street, in Norway, on the corner of Whitman Street and directly across from the Advertiser-Democrat/Sun Journal office.

Fletcher’s Candy Store was a Main Street, Norway staple from the 1940s until the early 1960s. Entering Fletcher’s was like entering a Norman Rockwell painting with the marble-topped soda fountain counter in front of a huge half-moon mirror with lights, round marble-topped tables and wire-backed sweetheart chairs.

But homemade candies, the artistry of proprietor Roy Fletcher, were the reason most people went there. As well as chocolates, needhams and fudge and many other candies, Fletcher was well known throughout the area for his homemade Christmas ribbon candy. Also, at Christmas, Fletcher hand crafted a giant candy cane. There was always a large supply of penny candy for the kids and one could buy a bag of broken ribbon candy for very little.

For many years, Fletcher’s Candy Store, known as “The Sweetest Spot in Town” according to its sign in front of the store, was located on the corner of Main and Danforth Streets.

Though it is not possible to have an exact recreation of Fletcher’s, the Norway Historical Society does its best in recreating the sweetness and the era.

Now in their third year of offering Fletcher’s Candy Store, the society has once again put together a large assortment of homemade candy, made and donated by members and friends.

“There will be fudge, needhams, peanut brittle and a good deal more,” said Marion Howe, society member and originator of the Fletcher’s recreation. “We also have penny candy for the children just like Fletcher’s did.”

This is not the first time the Norway Historical Society has recreated one of Norway’s gems of long ago.

“A few years ago we did The Marigold Tea Room that was at Norway Lake many years ago,” recalled Howe. “That’s sort of how we came up with the idea of doing Fletcher’s Candy Store.”

As well as the sweetness of Fletcher’s, the Norway Historical Society does have one of the original marble-topped tables and four chairs donated by the Fletcher family and available for customers to sit and rest a bit while enjoying a piece of homemade fudge.

Glass cases that display the homemade goodies are reminiscent of the ones that had displayed Fletcher’s confections. A friend of the society has loaned an antique cash register to complete the nostalgic setting. A sign, very similar to “The Sweetest Spot in Town” sign of Fletcher’s, has been reproduced to hang outside.

According to Sue Dennison, Norway Historical Society president, Fletcher’s Candy Store Day is a very worthwhile fundraiser and the proceeds go toward the upkeep of the society’s home.

Fletcher’s Candy Store Day is on the same day as the Oxford Hills Chamber of Commerce annual Christmas parade, always the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The parade participants will line up at Advertiser Square and Whitman Street for an 11 a.m. start and proceed to Market Square in South Paris.

Fletcher’s Candy Store opens on that day at 9 a.m.

“We will close when the candy is all gone,” said Dennison, “or when the volunteers give out.”

There may not be any sugarplums at Fletcher’s Candy Store, but stopping by will allow visitors to take a step into Norway’s past and have a very sweet start to the holiday season.

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