UPDATE 3.28.2011: There is a benefit event now scheduled for April 10th, 2011 at the West Pawlet Fire Dept. Live Music By Gold Town! Pig Roast! Chicken BBQ! Bake Sale! Silent Auction Featuring Local Artists and Businesses! All proceeds to benefit Will and Eric of Dutchies General Store. As a Community lets come together in the wake of this tragic fire and support our neighbors! For more information and to make a donation please call Katrina at: 802.645.0613
A tragic fire last night destroyed Dutchies General Store in West Pawlet, Vermomt. Our hearts go out to Will and Eric and we know our community will rally to support them in this time of need- already there are plans in the works for a benefit auction. Please consider making a donation below, any amount will be appreciated. I will after April 10th close the donations here on pawletvermont.com and write a check to Will and Eric for the full amount.
Dutchies 1920's
Interior Dutchies General Store
pawletvermont.com 
I am Eric’s uncle Dale. I just heard this morning 03/26/2011 about this fire. I have visited Eric and Will several times at the store. A tragic loss. I have made a donation.
I’m Eric’s Aunt Val. I’m so sorry to hear of Eric & Will’s loss. I’d like to send my love and hope for a speedy recovery. I have also made a donation.
I would love to donate to the auction. I am a fiber artist here in Pawlet. Eve actually has some of my work, so she is familiar with me. Just let me know how, when and where to donate.
Call Katrina at 802.645.0613 as she is heading that effort up… thank you!!!!
I can not believe this happened I hope that Will and Erek will be OK.
I will not be in town for the pig roast benefit. So I hope the donation I am making today will be of some help to you. My heart goes out to you both and your beautiful pets who lost their lives. I will forever remember them. Precious!! Huge hug.
I am a good friend of Will and Erek I can not believe this happened From; Claudia Joshua Justin Brittney Dekalb
I was sad when i heard the store burnt. Almost a year ago I went in everyday and by a sandwich and gum. after school i went in after homework and visited. Hope Eric and Will will rebuild!!! I’ll be at the benifit!!! miss you Will and Eric ~ Jacob White
I am Eric’s sister,Cherie and my husband Rob and I are completely shocked by what has happened. Our thoughts and prayers are will Will and Eric and of course Charlie and Cheyenne. They will be terribly missed! We can not get over the support that their community has shown them and thank all of you for your love and kindness!
We want to thank all of the people for their wonderful response to our son Eric and his partner, Will in this horrific event. The outpouring of love and support is awesome and we are so grateful that the ‘boys’ have you all since we are not able to be with them more than a couple of days at a time.
The community and friends they have made are the most wonderful people we have ever had the privilege of meeting and we cannot thank you enough for your help. We are all blessed that they were able to survive and will do all we can to help them reopen and carry on.
Thank you all and may God bless you all.
Eric, just heard of the fire. Hope you can restore your loss. Aunt Carol
Every summer we have a pony/horse camp at our farm here in West Pawlet and one of the things that the students look forward to the most is the day they are skilled enough to tack up their horses and head on down the trail to “Dutchie’s”. The kids would be just tickled when they would come out with pieces of apples for the horses, and of course they would go in for drinks and a treat. We are all so saddened by your loss Will and Eric and also hopeful that you will rebuild, with the help of all of us in whatever way we can. We hope though that right now you are now out of the hospital and recovering? Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your beautiful dogs…
Just devastating and horrific…Was knocked back on our heels to hear of the loss of the store..OMG!! And the Loss of Mr. Cary and Will and Erics “babies”..God Bless them all!! Very, very heartbreaking.. We will not be attending the pig roast as I go into the hospital tomorrow, 29th, for another knee replacement. Our Prayers and Love go out to all.
I used to live in Pawlet and I was very sad to hear about the fire.
This is a horrible tragedy for West Pawlet. Our thoughts and prayers go out to West Pawlet.
I made some calls and found out that the Vermont Preservation Trust provided some guidance when other towns in Vermont have suffered the loss of a vital general store. Paul Bruhn the director said he would be happy to advise the community/store owners on next steps in mapping out a plan to rebuild. paul@ptvermont.org
Another resource I spoke to was the Vermont Community Loan Fund http://www.vclf.org/ Once a plan is in place to rebuild they may be able to provide some funding.
Will and Eric, I was so saddened to hear of your devatating ordeal. I am in Florida with daughter Toots and won’t be home until the 12th. I am sending an item for the silent auction and will certainly make our monetary donation when I return home. Hope your health is improving and you will be up and around soon. Please take care. Our thoughts and prayers are with you both, and Charlie & Cheyenne, and of course Mr. Cary’s family.
Thank you for your wonderful support of Eric and Will. I know they are devestated by the loss of Charlie and Cheyanne and I am know this has had a huge impact on family, friends as well as the entire town. I am grateful that they have the support from such wonderful people. It is not every day that you are able to realize how much you touch others lives and the outpouring of support and love from an entire community is awe inspiring. My thoughts and prayers are with you and everyone that this has affected.
My husband, Tom, and I regularly bike over Rupert Mt to our favorite destination/lunch spot–Dutchie’s store. Will and Eric always serve delicious turkey sandwiches to us with a smile which makes the difficult climb worthwhile! They are both so friendly and they always make us feel at home. We are so sad to learn of the loss of beloved Dutchie’s but are relieved to know that Will and Eric have survived the fire. My heart goes out to both of them and for those lovely dogs. I believe it was Charlie who was trained to take the dollar bills into his mouth and pass the payment to his owners. We will be joining you for the benefit on April 10th. Please, Will and Eric, in the meantime know that you are loved.