« No Name Grocery, 1890 »

From the same era as the most recent post of Bohl & Gamble Grocery, this grocery differs somewhat in that it is wintertime and that it is doubtful if the store was even the reason for the photo. Though I have cropped some of the second story out of the photo, there was no signboard to identify the business, so we are left with the assumption that the man and his trap are the subject – it certainly is not a delivery vehicle for the store and it isn’t nearly as interesting as the store and its contents!

So, if you are like most perusers of antique images, you will virtually ignore them and get your fingerprints all over the dirty window glass looking to see what is different and the same about grocery shopping then and now.

There is Red Sea Cough Mixture (that fits the season); cheese is going for the exorbitant price of 19 cents a pound (you may want to shop around!); Rising Sun brand Sun Paste Stove Polish (when was the last time you gave your stove a shine?); the door tag invites you to Step Inside for your Oak Leaf Soap; there are huge tins of peaches or tomatoes (I am a collector of advertising labels but I don’t recognize this brand and can’t read the contents); the open wooden boxes with Quaker Oats labels display something other than oats – anyway, you would buy your children’s breakfast cereal in packages here, you’re not getting this for your horse (I think they may contain peanuts, pecans or dried fruit); cut plug tobacco, and shelves stuffed with other edibles; there are also polished metal lunch pails and storage tins available (you may need to ask the sales staff to reach some of these items for you, though you might even give them your grocery list and they will put your order together and pack it up for you at no extra charge – try that in your local supermarket! Heck, you would be lucky today if they even know what they have on the shelves much less find it for you).

Another thing collectors search for whenever they see plate glass windows – are there reflections that reveal what is across the street? Alas there are no hidden treasures here, though I can see letter signage, the only thing I can make out is the single word “house”. 

We are used to seeing people in the background of TV news reports flashing victory signs and mouthing “Hi, Mom!”, well, people in the past usually availed themselves of the opportunity of getting into the picture even if they were unlikely to ever see the results; from our perspective the young girls add interest and charm, but we don’t know how the photographer felt about it, or if the man sitting with his sheepskin lap warmer had this large cabinet print taken. Sorry fellow, your trap is very nice I’m sure, as far as that sort of thing goes, but thanks for the photo!