For over 120 years, Fadden’s General Store has been producing award-winning maple syrup for the western White Mountains. Like most early settlers in the White Mountains, the Fadden Family harvested maple sap and sugar to consume and trade for supplies. James H. Fadden and his wife, Ida, opened Fadden’s General Store in 1896.
It wasn’t until James and his son, Norman, purchased a stand of maple trees and built a large sugarhouse that Fadden’s launched into the commercial maple syrup industry. Norman ran the store until 1983 when his son, James H. Fadden Sr., took over and ran it until James (Jim) H. Fadden Jr. purchased and restored the store back to its original beauty in the summer of 2008. Jim ran the store until his passing in December 2018. His son, James, and his mother are continuing the Fadden legacy with the sixth generation.
The Fadden maple stand is located just three miles up the street from the General Store. While the maple grove is home to the old sugarhouse, today the maple syrup is produced in the modern state-of-the-art sugarhouse right behind the General Store on Main Street in North Woodstock. With over 7,500 taps and 17 miles of pipeline, Fadden’s produces approximately 2,000 to 2,500 gallons of maple syrup every year. That’s a lot of pancakes!
Over the decades, Fadden’s has won many awards, including eight Carlisle awards, which is presented annually for the best maple syrup in New Hampshire. Fadden’s most recently won the award in 2018. In 1957, Norman won an award for the best maple syrup in the world. That’s one big title!
When asked what makes Fadden’s maple syrup special, James was modest and said, “I would love to say it’s the cook who makes our syrup unique, but that would be a fib. I would have to say our syrup is good because of the environment where it comes from in our grove. It also may have to do with our cleaning habitats, but it is most likely due to the fact we don’t let our maple sap sit around.”
Fadden’s Maple Syrup is available for purchase year-round, seven days a week at Fadden’s General Store. Maple syrup can be purchased in just about every size jug you can imagine. Bring home a gallon for yourself and lots of smaller jugs for all your friends! Maple syrup isn’t the only thing you’ll find at Fadden’s General Store. “We also carry a lot of locally made things like jellies and jams, honey, maple-scented hand lotions, and chapstick. We also have locally made beers, wines, and meads along with a small grocery section. For our outdoors people, we have a wide range of things from camping and fishing supplies,” said James. Of course, you can find all your favorite gifts like magnets, postcards, and stuffed animals to remember your favorite vacation.
After you have perused the General Store, walk next door to the adjacent Peg’s Restaurant serving up hearty New England fare. Known for its friendly service and delicious food, you definitely won’t leave hungry after a trip to Peg’s. Order the pancakes and top them off with Fadden’s maple syrup!
