The Deming Store is located at 2 Mill Lane, and most recently remembered as a deli called "Your Village Store," before being sold in 2012 to a private owner.
The Deming Store, as it was known during the time of the Amistad, was owned by the local abolitionist Samuel Deming. In addition to owning the store, Deming was also a legislator, farmer and one of Farmington's most esteemed citizens and church leaders. The Deming Store was originally located around the corner on Main Street next to his home, and next to the red Chauncey Deming house and across from the Congregational church, but was moved in 1929 to its current location using rollers constructed of tree trunks, as well as oxen to pull it.
Deming offered the second floor of the store to house the Mendi men as well as one boy named Kale when they arrived in March. All thirty-three of these men were housed in this 18 by 20 foot space, with each man given a simple bunk with a straw mattress and blanket.
During the day, this same space was converted to a schoolroom for all the Mendi people, where they studied English (including reading, writing and spelling), arithmetic, and Christianity for five hours per day, six days per week. The students included the three Mendi girls, Margru, Teme and Kagne, who received housing from other Farmington citizens in their private homes. The Mendi primarily received instruction from a Yale graduate student, but John Treadwell's son, John Pitkin, also taught the Mendi and noted that they were eager students.
In the spring, the Farmington townspeople collaborated to build a dormitory for the Mendi men on the site of Austin Williams' property and they relocated there in May. After that, the second floor of the Deming Store was solely dedicated to serve as a schoolroom for the Mendi.
