Ned of H. Houst & Son

 Ned Houst with wife Shelby

Juliet: What brought you to Woodstock?

Ned: I had been visiting Woodstock from my earliest childhood days. I always liked the town and I liked the place that my grandmother lived in which is where we live now. I finished college and a  career as a Navy officer for three and a half years and decided to come up and try working at the store for a while. I told my dad I would try it for a year and see how it went.

Juliet:  Are you the “Son”?

Ned:  I’m the grandson. My dad was the “Son”.

Juliet:  What is your first memory of Woodstock?

Ned: (laughs) Oh golly, I think probably the house up in Wittenberg.

Juliet: What has changed the most?

Ned:  Well, it’s a busier town than it was when I first came here. It was a relatively quiet town in 1965 and prior to that it was much more quiet. (laughs) I’d say that’s the biggest change.

Juliet: What has changed the least?

Ned:  I think probably the nature of the town. In my opinion Woodstock has really maintained a delightful small town character. I’ve had the fortune to do a great deal of traveling and it’s rare to find a town as nice as this is.

Juliet:  What is your favorite thing about being here?

Ned:  I like the people. I like the scenery. It’s home.

~Woodstock Times article from Houst’s 80th anniversary

H. Houst and Son Hardware Store - Rental Shop

4 Mill Hill Road Woodstock, NY 12498