Thomas Gallagher and his brother George established a general store at this location in 1844 and enlarged the building in 1875; it is now the oldest continuously operating commercial building in town. At the outbreak of the Civil War, he was commissioned Colonel of the 11th PA Reserves, was taken prisoner at Gaines Mill, and was severely wounded at South Mountain in 1862. He led the 54th PA militia in the capture of Morgan's Raiders in 1863, was brevetted General, and died in New Alexandria in 1883.