OUR BUILDING’S RICH HISTORY
Here is some of the history on our current Thrift Store location. The building is owned by Leonard Cassaretto and was previously owned by his grandparents and parents. It was built c. 1850 and its original use was as a store/trading post. Its’ historical name of record is Raboul’s Trading Post. In 1873 Casimer Raboul sold the property to Michael Noziglia for $500 in gold coin. Noziglia’s wife transferred the property to Luigi Cassaretto (Leonard’s grandfather, who was in Italy) in 1873 and it has been in the Cassaretto family since then. It then became the Cassaretto Market and run by the family. Leonard’s father was one of 9 children born in the family living quarters, above the store, which is now our attic. Then they built the house next door. The closed off door on the west side of our building was so they could go between ‘work and home’. It was always a market, trading post or stage stop. In the 1930’s the Cassaretto family began renting it to different people for their businesses. It was Pigg’s Market, Ken’s Market, and then Tiano’s Market for many years, with next door being Tiano’s Coffee Shop. It has gone through several remodels to become what it is today. What is now the ‘Green Room’ was the walk in freezer and meat locker. The back room and kitchen were storage and, at one time, the wall between us and the Cucina was open and the only entrance to the Tiano Coffee Shop. After Tiano’s Market left, it was closed off from next door and became several businesses, including a gift shop named “Sass with Class’. Two iron doors (that are still laying out back) were removed to install the windows we now have in front.
A group of citizens in Groveland first met at the Community Hall on November 4, 1982 and formed Helping Hands. The first officers were elected on December 2, 1982. In January of 1984, Helping Hands was granted its non-profit status and received its charter. The first Helping Hands Thrift Store opened on March 17, 1984 in Groveland and has run continually since then, but relocating to larger facilities 3 times. We occupied the building in the mid 90’s, and hopefully have found our permanent home. In June 2007- our 25th year- we expanded and opened the Furniture Barn down the street.
Here is some of the history on our current Thrift Store location. The building is owned by Leonard Cassaretto and was previously owned by his grandparents and parents. It was built c. 1850 and its original use was as a store/trading post. Its’ historical name of record is Raboul’s Trading Post. In 1873 Casimer Raboul sold the property to Michael Noziglia for $500 in gold coin. Noziglia’s wife transferred the property to Luigi Cassaretto (Leonard’s grandfather, who was in Italy) in 1873 and it has been in the Cassaretto family since then. It then became the Cassaretto Market and run by the family. Leonard’s father was one of 9 children born in the family living quarters, above the store, which is now our attic. Then they built the house next door. The closed off door on the west side of our building was so they could go between ‘work and home’. It was always a market, trading post or stage stop. In the 1930’s the Cassaretto family began renting it to different people for their businesses. It was Pigg’s Market, Ken’s Market, and then Tiano’s Market for many years, with next door being Tiano’s Coffee Shop. It has gone through several remodels to become what it is today. What is now the ‘Green Room’ was the walk in freezer and meat locker. The back room and kitchen were storage and, at one time, the wall between us and the Cucina was open and the only entrance to the Tiano Coffee Shop. After Tiano’s Market left, it was closed off from next door and became several businesses, including a gift shop named “Sass with Class’. Two iron doors (that are still laying out back) were removed to install the windows we now have in front.
A group of citizens in Groveland first met at the Community Hall on November 4, 1982 and formed Helping Hands. The first officers were elected on December 2, 1982. In January of 1984, Helping Hands was granted its non-profit status and received its charter. The first Helping Hands Thrift Store opened on March 17, 1984 in Groveland and has run continually since then, but relocating to larger facilities 3 times. We occupied the building in the mid 90’s, and hopefully have found our permanent home. In June 2007- our 25th year- we expanded and opened the Furniture Barn down the street.