Fire Burns Outdoor Store to the Ground

Vermont Field Sports, a local outdoor icon, burned to the ground April 26 destroying not only a business, but a way of life for some people in the region.

Owner Dick Phillips opened the Route 7 business in Middlebury for more than two decades before and the store quickly became a home away from home for many outdoor enthusiasts.

The fire, which was reported at about 10:30 p.m., couldn't be slowed by firefighters as gunpowder and ammunition created a dangerous situation forcing the closure of Route 7 for about four hours. Soon, the fire had roared throughout the building and by morning all that was left was a shell.

In news reports, fire officials said the fire was not suspicious but they haven't yet determined its cause. It was believed to have started at the north end of the building in the fishing tackle area, according to a story in the Addison Independent.

Phillips, 67, told the Independent he had not ruled out rebuilding Vermont Field Sports, which he opened 25 years prior.

Some 400 to 500 guns were destroyed in the fire as were dozens of trophy mounts of whitetails and other taxidermied specimens.

Workers and customers lamented the loss of what they referred to as an old-style sporting goods store where the fishing and hunting stories were as important as the gear that was sold.