Jackson’s sold, iconic sign taken off building

By Beth David, Editor

A little variety store has been in that spot for 70+ years, but last year, on 2/3/20, Jackson’s Variety, which had occupied the space for more than 50 years, suffered a devastating fire. 

The damage meant tens of thousands of dollars in renovations. The Jackson family decided it was time to sell. This weekend on 2/6/21, almost exactly one year later, the iconic sign came down, a few days after the building changed hands.

Colleen Jackson said the family decided to sell instead of rebuild. Her sister Tina worked in the store, their father Colin “Jack” Jackson was upstairs asleep when the blaze started, and narrowly escaped, with the help of Tina and her niece, and a few passersby. It was a harrowing ordeal (see 2/6/20 issue online), but everyone got out.

The building, however, was heavily damaged.

Colleen said an Acushnet business owner bought the building and will probably keep the apartment upstairs and run a business below.

It most likely, however, will not be a variety store. 

She said he plans to rehab the building not knock it down.

Family members, she said, were close to retirement, and decided that selling the building was their best option. They signed on 2/3/21, one year to the day of the fire, and closed on the fourth.

She said she wanted to keep the sign “as a memory.” 

It will probably get a special place in her yard.

“It’s just sad,” said Colleen, adding that she and Tina walked through before the sale. 

The damage was extensive, and seemingly complete, although the burn damage is upstairs. Downstairs, where the store was, it is mostly water damage.

The bedroom was destroyed, she said. But as they looked around, they saw a Mother’s Day card for her mother (who was in the hospital at the time of the fire), that was perfectly intact.

Many youngsters from decades, generations, ago remember going to the little store for penny candy, soda, or other treats after school, or running up from the beach, and then back down again.

“The property is sold & we wish the new owners the best,” wrote Colleen on her Facebook page. “We want to thank everyone for their sup­port throughout this whole ordeal!”

“Sad day..but the wonderful memories will last all a lifetime!! Thank God for good people like the Jackson family. Jack always took care of those in need. And trust me their were always tons of people in need. He helped so many people without money to keep milk, bread and staples on the table for their families. He took good care of [a lot of] Neckers and has a heart of gold,” wrote Kathy Fitzgerald Candage. “Sending [love] to Jack and the Jackson family.”

“My kids used to Love going there for candy! wrote Lynne Manly. “Your Dad was always so nice!”

“So many memories from that store!” wrote Tracey Stuart Dennison. “I used to take the bus from there and I bought so many treats.”

Elizabeth Palm wrote that she visited the store in 2017 and saw Jack there and he told her to not to forget to stop by “in another 20 years.”

“I said, ‘No, not twenty but thirty, and you better be here,’” she wrote, adding she wasn’t sure of her response, but was sure of his remark. “Anyway, take care and wishing you and the rest of your family all the best in the coming year and all the ones afterwards.”

“Lots of memo­ries it was always nice talking with him or seeing your sister when I used to go in,” wrote Louise Quinting. “It will never be the same.”

 

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Click here to download the entire 2/11/21 issue: 02-11-21 JacksonsSign