Salvadore Iacovetta came to America in 1914. The government didn’t want to spell out Salvadore and had an error on the last name making it Iacovetto. So hence the name Sam Iacovetto came to be. Sam Iacovetto bought his famous store from a man named Doyle in 1917. He first started out as a barber, a cobbler, and the store had a pool hall. As the years went by, he got a few canned goods, and then kept growing until in 1939 a newer store was built to the right of the old one. By this time he had everything you could possibly imagine. He continued fixing shoes and cutting hair in the new store. He sold everything from winter coats and jeans to someone’s evening meal. Residents that actually went to the store back then compare it to a “miniature Wal-Mart.” Sam Iacovetto always gave credit to anyone and everyone. Some people, like farmers during the depression, could only pay him back after a year or more, but that didn’t matter to him. All that mattered was that these people needed his help, and he gave it to them. He put them in the book and gave them credit, no matter how long it took them to pay him back. He basically trusted everyone. If someone needed him, he helped them and would take the “IOU.” This was exceptionally helpful during the Depression. Many people have said they would not have lived through the Depression if it were not for Sam’s help with his store. Sam was an all around great man, and did so much for the community of Phippsburg.

Sam was great with kids; he had a huge old-fashioned candy case in the store, and would let the kids that came into the store have one free piece of candy every time. Clyde Iacovetto Jr., Sam’s grandson, said he always loved the store when he was a kid and remembered the big case of candy the most. Sam taught all of his kids how to work in the store and he even had them deliver ice that they cut from the river to all of Phippsburg's residents. Back then; people didn’t have electricity for freezers. The store was such a big part of Phippsburg back then and still stands as tall and proud as it did when it was open and hopefully it will for years to come.

The Iacovetto store is mainly constructed of cinder block with a cinder block foundation. The roof of the store is shingle with two dormers along the left side. The store has a rectangle shape. The front of the store is brick with a wood layer covering the brick to give it a wood looking composure, this is also called a fake front because it makes the store look like it is sided with wood when really only the front is sided with wood. The front of the store had two square, single pane, storefront windows with a store door in the center of the two windows. The store also used to have a filling station in the front of the store on Highway 131.

The information was gathered with the help of the Historical Society of Oak Creek and Phippsburg, Alice and Clyde Iacovetto, Dutch and Neva Ebaugh, Lila Rider, Markie Williams, and Mike Yurich were invaluable resources for this project. This description was written by Justin and Nile students at Soroco High School.