HEUVELTON -- North Country Public Radio (NCPR) invites the public to Behind the Counter, a gallery exhibit highlighting the history of local stores in North Country, on Thursday, Oct. 8 from 6-8 p.m. at Pickens Hall in Heuvelton. 

The gallery features historic photos of general stores throughout St. Lawrence County, downtown Heuvelton, and Pickens Hall through the years. 

The photos, collected by NCPR’s North Country at Work project, depict scenes from Heuvelton’s “Turkey Day,” as well as photos of several stores that operated inside present-day Pickens Hall. 

Guitarist Ben Lacy will provide music during the event, and refreshments will be available. 

The exhibit will remain on display through the winter. 

“These stores served as a backbone for many small communities and we are honored to be able to carry on that tradition,” said Heuvelton Historical Association (HHA) member Johanna Kingsley. “We are excited to partner with North Country at Work to give visitors a glimpse at the history of general stores around St. Lawrence County.” 

The Heuvelton Historical Association was founded in 2001 with the goal of purchasing and restoring what is now known as Pickens Hall. 

Since then, the HHA has restored Pickens Hall and opened Pickens General Store, hosted many exhibits, concerts, classes, and community events, and purchased two additional properties to aid in preserving the character of downtown Heuvelton. 

Individuals, businesses, non-profits, and government entities supported this work.

Two days after the gallery opening, on Oct. 10, the Heuvelton Historical Association will celebrate 25 years of operation with a full day of events. 

There will be music, cider and ice cream making demonstrations, and more. Many activities are planned for a fun-filled afternoon:

• 2-5 p.m. Cider making and ice cream making demonstrations
• 3 and 4 p.m. Reptile show with Her-petology
• 5 p.m. Music jam and sing along led by the Pickens All Stars (Don Woodcock, Dan Pearson, Barb Heller, John Danis and friends)
• 6:30-9 p.m. Community Contra Dance called by Beth Robinson. Music provided by Don Woodcock, Annie Davies, Jeremy Russo and Matt Bullwinkel. Free. 

North Country at Work is NCPR’s longstanding project documenting the photos and stories of working life in the North Country through the centuries. 

The project aims to deepen our understanding of how North Country residents made their livings in earlier times, how the next generation of workers is finding their place in our region, and how our lives are part of a larger rural experience throughout the United States. 

“These photos offer a great window into what life used to look like in our region’s downtowns,” said North Country at Work project coordinator Ana Williams-Bergen. “The exhibit offers a chance for our community to come together and share in the history of this part of life in our region. It’s always exciting to give people the chance to interact with the photos and stories in our archive, and historic Pickens Hall is a natural setting.” 

Everyone has a photo or work-related story to share. 

It all adds up to make the North Country at Work project as illuminating and meaningful as possible. 

Those individuals who would like to share their stories and photos are encouraged to contact Williams-Bergen by writing to work@ncpr.org.