After upgrade, Eggemoggin Country Store raffles vintage gas pump

By Jenna Lookner

SARGENTVILLE—In a sign of the area’s changing landscape, perhaps it was just a matter of time: The vintage gas pumps at the Eggemoggin Country Store (ECS) are gone.

The old pumps with swing levers that activated an internal wheel to calculate gallons and cost were replaced in July with upgraded digital pumps: electronic displays, credit card pay, and (soon) gas station reward points.

Out to pasture: One of the old pumps that was removed from the Eggemoggin Country Store. Photo courtesy of ECS.

Store owner Patricia Whiting, who retired from a career in the international environmental field around the time she purchased ECS in 2021, said her focus has been on maintaining the feel of the store while making some changes, updates and upgrades. 

“The store is over 40 years old,” Whiting said. “The [old] pumps were original to the store.”

Whiting said that the upgrade was a logistical decision, not a necessity. 

“It was becoming harder to get parts for the pumps,” she said. “We also had a lot of drive-offs as people would forget to pay after shopping.” 

Prior to the upgrade, gasoline was only available at ECS during business hours and ultimately required payment before pumping a declared amount of pre-paid fuel. 

“This is ultimately for the ease of the customer, too,” she said. “People are really happy with it.” 

As with any change, there have been some anticipated growing pains. Whiting recalled one customer’s reaction, “He said, ‘It’s turned into the suburbs!’” 

Patricia Whiting, owner of the Eggemoggin Countrey Store, with the new gas pump. Photo by Jenna Lookner.

But with nostalgia remaining strong, Whiting and Richie Crosby from R.L. Greenlaw and Sons of Stonington, which owns the old pumps, made a plan: Greenlaw would donate a pump to the store for Whiting to raffle to benefit an as-yet-to-be-determined community cause.

“Greenlaw owns the pumps and graciously offered to donate one back for a community benefit raffle,” Whiting said.”Greenlaw is very gracious. We work extremely well with them.”

Tickets are $2 each and are available for purchase at the counter of ECS.

While the beneficiary of the raffle has not been named, Whiting has a myriad of ideas. She said she observes many of the hardships locally from her vantage point at the store, and she wants the funds from the raffle to do the greatest good for the community. 

“This is not going to be a political cause. It’s for the community,” she said. “We like to get community feedback.” 

“We have sold over 100 raffle tickets so far,” Whiting said. “Mostly they have been sold to locals, some people are even buying multiple tickets.” 

The winner of the pump will be drawn at the final ECS Car Cruise-In of the year on Thursday, September 18. Whiting said tickets will be available for purchase right up until the time of the drawing.