Karen DeVincenzo, Ward. There’s a little gem of a store in the old mining town of Ward that is not to be missed. It’s one of the mountain destinations cyclists aim for on their treks up Left Hand Canyon. Visitors to the Brainard Lake area might stop in to stock their daypacks with snacks on their way into the park, or to satisfy that post-hike hunger on their way back down the mountain.
Ward natives Katrina and Jesse Pattridge have turned the Utica Street Market into the family owned Jacklegger Mercantile. Ward was called Columbia City back when it was a booming mining town. One of the drills used in those mines was the jackleg drill and the miner doing the drilling was called the Jacklegger. Since Jesse is still involved with mining, participating in competitions all around the state, the name they chose for the store is fitting.
The previous owner, Fred Morse, had been running the store for the past 14 years when the couple started contemplating the purchase. Katrina had just finished her student teaching and was well on her way to a teaching career, but she and Jesse couldn’t stop thinking about the store.
“We wanted something for our daughters to be a part of, a place where they could learn the value of work.”
So, they made an offer that was accepted and went to work to make it their own. Jesse’s business, Droptine Builders, came in and with the help of the whole family, gutted the entire interior, upgraded the wiring and expanded the kitchen. Daughters Autumn, 12 years old, and Brook, nine, were very much part of that whole process and continue to contribute every day.
They opened for business this past May, offering everything from espresso drinks, breakfast burritos, home-made soups, quiches and pie to small gifts, soda and bottles of locally made hot sauces, and continue to expand their repertoire regularly. In the winter months they will be renting out snowshoes.
Katrina’s mom, Christine, or Grandma, as she is better known by the locals, is the baker of the bounty in the glass display cases, keeping them stocked with her irresistible made-from-scratch cheesecake, scones and other delectables.
It’s heartwarming to see a true family business giving the younger members immeasurable learning opportunities in a hands-on practical setting. From cooking and baking to math (counting out customers’ change), spelling (writing out the daily offerings on the colorful chalkboard), and customer service, the family business encompasses it all.
Next time you’re cycling your way up the inclines or on your way to a hike or winter snowshoe in the park, don’t miss Ward’s Jackleggers Mercantile. Chances are, they will have just what you need.
Jackleggers is located at 62 Utica Street, Ward. The phone number is (303) 459-1010. The store is open every day from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
(Originally published in the August 1, 2019, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)
