I completed most of my Christmas shopping online this year,
which I found to be very convenient, and other than a slight shipping delay, (the
Christmas cards I’d ordered last month just arrived last week) everything was
delivered to my front door mere days after I’d placed my order.
In a way, this is history repeating itself…
Catalog ordering wasn’t unusual for pioneers. The local mercantile,
general store, emporium, or country store often provided catalogs for customers
to review and place orders from—if they didn’t have what the customer was
looking for in stock. The merchandise would be delivered to the store and the
customer would come pick it up.
Country stores did try to hold a variety of merchandise on
hand for their customers. They were the “Wal-Marts” of the day, selling most
everything the community may need under one roof. The standard stock of
supplies usually included foods such as flour, sugar, oatmeal, coffee beans,
spices, baking powder, hard candy, crackers, dried beans, tobacco and cigars.
They would also have perishables such as eggs, milk, butter, cheese, fresh fruits
and vegetables (when in season, otherwise canned) and honey. These items they usually
procured from local residents.
The stores also sold dry goods, including bolts of cloth,
thread, needles and pins, undergarments, shoes and boots, hats, belts and
socks. Of course they also sold essentials such as guns and ammunition,
lanterns, lamps, ropes, pots and pans, dishes and cooking utensils, farming
equipment, and even coffins.
There would also be a selection of soaps, medicines, elixirs
and other toiletries.
The owners often resided
in their store, on the upper level or side/back rooms. The store area itself
was usually very crowded, with walls lined with shelves, and floors covered with
crates and barrels. Storage rooms were also a must. Most of the merchandise was
ordered through drummers, salesmen from establishments in larger cities that
maintained regular routes to assure their products were available throughout the
nation. The increase of the railroad benefitted many, including store proprietors.
Merchandise became easier to obtain.
These establishments were often the hub of the community.
Meetings would be held there, and they were often the number one place of socializing.
The country store was also where people picked up their mail.
In the late 1890’s the postal service created RFD. Rural
Free Delivery. This eliminated the need to visit the country store to pick up
mail, and it also created a way for people to order merchandise and have it
delivered directly to their doorstep. In order to implement the RFD, the
government had to build roads to assure mail could be delivered to every home. Companies
took great advantage of this, and started sending catalogs to all homes. People
now had many more choices of merchandise and the catalogs often times had very
appealing prices.
By the early 1900’s country stores began transforming into
more singular focused stores, such as grocery stores, clothing stores, hardware stores, drug
stores, etc. etc.
In my October release, Unclaimed
Bride, the hero returns home from town with very ripe bananas. A fruit that
was unheard of in Wyoming at the time, and the heroine has to figure out what
to do with them.
With this post I’d like to wish you all a very Merry
Christmas and a joyous New Year.
Lauri
