You Will Find “IT” Here!

Record EditorOctober 9, 2020Last Updated: October 9, 2020

3 minutes read

By Christopher Miller

On the top of the hill in Flemington resides an interesting and peculiar store that spawned a twin who resides in Altoona. This unique establishment has been outfitting people and homes in our area since 1956 with decorations, trinkets, and gifts.

For the last 6 decades Unkel Joe’s Woodshed has been there for celebrating life’s big moments. A couple buying their first home and wanting to decorate, shopping for a one-of-a-kind wedding gift for that special couple, or the avid fisherman stocking up on tackle…these are just a few of things that people have relied on Uncle Joe’s Woodshed to keep fully in stock.

This is not a history lesson – I will keep that for Lou, the history guy’s column. As the story goes, Joseph Anderson had an idea in 1956. He had worked at the J.C. Penney store in Lock Haven when the now historic fire took place downtown.

Enter “Unkel Joe.”

Joe purchased some fire and smoke damaged goods from the Penney’s store, brought them up to the top of the hill and held a “fire sale.” Sharon, a store employee, told a story where she remembers her mother had a coat on layaway at Penney’s when the fire hit. She reported that the coat had survived the fire.

Needless to say 64 years later that “fire sale” was a hit!

The iconic location was started by selling irregular, and close out merchandise, apparel, shoes and housewares. In 1958 a second location was opened in Altoona. It was not long after that when they began to branch into regular merchandise, and what the store has become today.

One of the most iconic departments in Unkel Joe’s Woodshed is the Christmas rooms. Boasting Christmas from floor to ceiling, side-to-side, one can find the most beautiful assortment of artificial trees, decorations, and as Store Manager Ross Nevel puts it: “things you cannot find in other stores.”

Along with holiday decorations, one can also find a plethora of housewares, Fiestaware dishes, country curtains, trains and hobby items such as model cars and one of my personal favorites: model rockets.

“We don’t have everything, but you can find anything,” Steve, the Sporting Goods Department Manager reiterated. In fact, he told The Record that those words were the motto and business model of Joseph Anderson, a.k.a. “Unkel Joe.” Steve, who manages and stocks the hunting and fishing areas of the store admits that it feels like he doesn’t even work. When he isn’t working, he spends his time hunting, fishing and outdoors anyway.

Store Manager Ross likes to describe Unkel Joe’s as an old fashioned king of store, like a mini family department store. “My employees have been here for years, I don’t think I’ve had to hire anyone in 15 years and have zero turnover!”

Sharon, who is usually greeting people as they walk in, even myself when I deliver the papers on Wednesday afternoons, stated that she has been working at the Flemington location for 30 years. “I enjoy being here, and talking here to the customers,” she laughed. “We have people calling the store and asking to speak with only specific employees because they have dealt with them for years and years!”

Unkel Joe’s Woodshed is certainly a gem in Flemington and a treasure in Clinton County.

They feature items such as camping cookware, Fiestaware all colors and patterns, sporting goods, hobby items, gourmet teas and jellies, country curtains, the iconic Christmas shop, gifts, cards, purses, apparel, lace doilies, tarts and tart burners, artificial flowers, cards, outdoor patio goods, bird feeders and bird food, decorative lawn flags and United States flags, and, trust me, A WHOLE LOT MORE!