Originally written by Carl White.
Cuff’s Stationery
One of the favorite stores in Old Greenwich used to be Cuff’s Stationery at 212 Sound Beach Avenue. It was a typical “Mom and Pop” store, operated by William Cuff III and his brother Frank. They used to have beach pails and shovels as well as toys and games. Adults used to come in for greeting cards. It was sort of a landmark in Old Greenwich.
William Cuff’s Family
William II worked for the railroad in Stamford, while their mother stayed at home and raised the 3 children. These included sister Mary (the oldest), William III, and Frank (the youngest). After the father died in 1935, the 3 children had to support their mother until she died in 1985.
The children attended Sound Beach School. When they were old enough, they would take the train to central Greenwich to go to high school on Mason Street. The monthly train pass cost $3.17! William Cuff III had a job with the A&P store on Arcadia Avenue in Old Greenwich. He worked every night and all day Saturday, so he didn’t have time for extracurricular activities. William III graduated in 1926.
The Stationery Store
After graduation, he commuted to New York City to work as a bank clerk in a Loan Department. He did this for 6 years, but the Crash of 1929 eventually caught up with him. In 1932, he quit the bank. His brother Frank tried to talk him into going into business together. There was a vacant space in the Lockwood Building. The First National Store next door moved to a space previously occupied by Grand Central (where CVS is today). Frank leased the space from Ben Lockwood and ran the store alone from December to May. Will finally joined him.
Although many thought the business would fail due to the economic climate, the business lasted 29 years! Children would run in after school for penny candy. (Ada’s was also operating on the western side of town.) People on the way to the train could stop for newspapers and magazines. The greeting card business thrived at holiday time. Parents would come in to buy costumes at Halloween. The store continued to grow, and it was necessary to open the basement to stock toys and games. It became a community center, and people would come in to share stories with one another. The staff would sometimes get involved in political discussions.
Early Old Greenwich
At first, Old Greenwich (or Sound Beach, as it was once called) was quite different than it is today. There weren’t many buildings in the center. Horses and wagons were still popular, and there were 2 stables operating. Eventually, these turned into garages that sold gas. At this time, the pumps were mobile and were moved to the car. A blacksmith’s shop was open to shoe horses. Meat markets were separated from grocery stores. They would even deliver goods by horse and wagon. Eventually, meat markets and grocery stores would merge to become “supermarkets.”
There was no mail delivery either, so people had to walk to the post office on Arcadia to get their mail. A trolley ran through Town and would take residents to Atlantic Square in Stamford so they could go to the matinees on weekends. It also traveled to Port Chester and New Rochelle.
As the population of Old Greenwich increased, so did the demand for goods and services. Liquor stores, drug stores, banks, restaurants, etc. started to spring up. Most of these were small operations, but over time some big chain stores tried to move in (First National Stores). Even today, only Dunkin Donuts and CVS are located there. The village seems resistant to the larger chains.
Cuff’s Stationery Closes
Cuff’s Stationery closed after 29 years. It had been a long, successful run. The brothers worked for a long time in the business and felt it was time to retire. They left behind a legacy of specialized service and customer care. It was one of the many things that made the community special, and it’s part of the Town’s history.
William Cuff III died on March 24, 1993.
SOURCE
Cuff, W III; Old Greenwich – Off The Cuff, Oral History Project, Greenwich Library, CT; 1986
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