When you hear of the decade of the 1880s, do you think of the fabled "old west?"
It seems like most (not all) cowboy movies I remember watching years ago depicted that decade more than any other. And how about the actual well-known old west outlaws and lawmen who made the papers during the 1880s, such as Billy the Kid (who died in 1881), Jesse James, who was killed in 1882, wealthy cattle baron John Chisum, who died in 1884, the gunfight at the OK Coral involving Doc Holiday and Wyatt Earp which took place in 1881, and famous Native Americans, Geronimo and Sitting Bull, both still making news that decade?
And now we have a new old west series called "1883."
Well, at the same time all this "old west" was taking place on the American frontier - when the west wasn't so old - those who were living in a certain small Michigan town very well could have visited the store in which you are about to read...for the 1880s is the decade we will visit for today's posting, telling us about a certain restored building standing in a very different location and environment than the western US, though now inside the hallowed walls of Greenfield Village:
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Although this building, built in the mid-1850s in Waterford, Michigan (about 30 miles north of Detroit), was not the first acquisition Henry Ford made for his new outdoor museum - as far as I have read, that distinction goes to the Scotch Settlement School - it was, however, the first structure to arrive at the village site, according to the book, A Home For Our Heritage.
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| This building has been in its Greenfield Village location longer than its original Waterford location. |
Purchased in 1927 with the promise to the owner that a new brick building would replace it, the store was dismantled within a month of its purchase and re-erected in the Village shortly after. However, it was not placed in its permanent location facing the village green until spring of 1929.
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| Fruits and vegetables... |
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| ...from local farmers. |
Things began to change when Harold Skramstad became the director of Greenfield Village and the Henry Ford Museum in 1981. Under Skramstad the Village became more research-oriented. This was the period when the true history of numerous Village structures came forth, and the correcting of some errors and misrepresentations at the famed repository of Americana occurred, including the Mattox House and Susquehanna Plantation.
And the Elias Brown General Store.
Meet Mrs. Cleveland, the wife of a Detroit physician who fled the city during the summer to vacation in Waterford. In this skit, we see the conflicting concerns between the city and country attitudes.
Doc Howard's Office - The World of a 19th century Doctor
It's 1850 and you're sick. Who are you going to call on? Why, good ol' Doc Howard, of course!
Eagle Tavern
Learn about the Eagle Tavern and 19th century travel
Eagle Tavern: Eating Historically
Taste history while being immersed in the 1850s
Firestone Farm at Greenfield Village
Learn about the boyhood home of Harvey Firestone, the tire magnate.
The Giddings House
Revolutionary War and possible George Washington ties are within the hallowed walls of this beautiful stately colonial home.
Noah Webster House
A quick overview of the life of this fascinating Founding Father whose home, which was nearly razed for a parking lot, is now located in Greenfield Village.
The Plympton House
This house, with its long history (including American Indians) has close ties to Paul Revere himself!
Preserving History
Henry Ford did more for preserving everyday life of the 18th and 19th centuries than anyone else! Here's proof.
Tales of Everyday Life in Menlo Park (or Francis Jehl: A Young Boy's Experience Working at Menlo Park)
Menlo Park is brought to life by one who was there. First-hand accounts.
Richart Carriage Shop
This building was much more than a carriage shop in the 19th century!
And for some haunted fun,
Ghosts of Greenfield Village
Yep - real hauntings take place in this historic Village.
It was in the early 1990s when, due to extensive research, Greenfield Village began a serious transformation of the store, from the Elias Brown General Store that's been in place since just after its arrival to the Village, to the 1880s J. R. Jones General Store, with completion by opening day 1994. J. R. Jones was the proprietor during the 1880's while the building stood in its original Waterford location, and the Village decided to portray it from that period.
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| Inside the General Store. |
As they planned the transformation into its new/old look, the curators had found the store, as Henry Ford had it, was inconsistent in its presentation with their new vision; as mentioned, it was not historically accurate as what would have been seen by 1880s shoppers, meaning there was much work - physical and research - to be done. So, in 1990, a project team was appointed and began their tedious historical research to restore, reinstall, and reinterpret the building. They researched all resources about general stores, including account books. They also researched local Waterford history, including newspaper advertisements of the 1880's. In doing so they learned that the store was referred to as a farmer's supply store at one point, and that Mr. Jones added a stock of sporting goods in 1884. They scoured over Michigan supply and trade catalogues of the time, for a goal was to incorporate goods specific to what was sold in stores from the general lower Michigan area. They even asked visitors at the Village what they expected to see inside the store.
As to product placement, the researchers read actual interviews with Mr. J.R. Jones himself during his visit to Greenfield Village soon after the store was brought there!
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| Jugs, iron pots, tinware, and even seeds for planting could all be purchased here at the General Store. |
Recreating the store to its 1880s appearance was extremely important as the overall goal, and so accurately reproduced items were needed to accomplish the end result, for many original objects were rare or too fragile, with some being in too poor condition.
Since re-opening in 1994, and to this day, the J.R. Jones General Store appears much the same as it would have in the mid-1880's. Over 3,000 original objects with 2500 reproductions were installed to simulate an actual working store, implying that folks of the late 19th century had a greater quantity and variety of product to choose from than otherwise was believed, as well as showing how said product fit into people's everyday lives. The items upon the shelves were chosen based upon their historical appropriateness and how they would fit with the overall story to be told. It all ties in together.
By doing this they turned the General Store into what they call a "working" store, implying that there are quantities of the same objects, as a store's inventory would have had, and that the items would appear new and not faded antiques.
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| The 1880s had plenty of canned goods for sale. And cheese, too. |
With this new transformation, the J. R. Jones General Store now shows how most stores of this era housed everything needed for the surrounding community in which it served. From dry goods and tools to certain foods, patent medicines, household utensils, fancy jewelry, material for clothing, shoes, hats, sugar, cracker barrels, coffee, sometimes mail for pick up, and maybe even a bit of hard candy and a small selection of toys, the general store was the heart of the community. The store served as a meeting place for friends, who swapped stories and debated politics out front in the warm weather and near the potbellied stove in the cooler months.
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| The pot-bellied stove near the rear of the store. |
For presentation they have costumed presenters who speak in a third person vernacular, and rather than just present, the interpreter will bring to life the way things were in that vacation town of Waterford, and also speak of purchases in the same manner as a customer from the 1880s might do. It's not the a-typical monotone drone: "Welcome to the general store..."
When the revamped store with its new more historically accurate look was presented to the public for the first time in spring 1994, visitors took immediate notice and were very impressed by the dramatic change. The turn-around helped to bring this store as it was in the 1880s successfully to life.
Waterford Village, during the summer months in the 1880's, drew a large number of vacationers from Detroit and Lansing, as it was a resort community with its many nearby lakes. And, Greenfield Village now entertains visitors during the summer months by presenting a 15 minute skit about a pain-in-the-butt "city" lady customer and how she irritates the proprietor, Mr. Jones.
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| "The Disagreeable Customer" |
James R. Jones was but one of nine different proprietors who operated a general store in this building between 1857 and 1927. August Jacober was the proprietor of the store when Henry Ford purchased the building in 1927, and these storekeepers knew the latest news and often served as the Justice of the Peace and the Village Postmaster.
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| Here is an original shot of August Jacober's General Store in the late 1920s, still on the corner of Dixie Highway and Andersonville Street where it originally stood in Waterford, Michigan, about to be transported to its new home at Greenfield Village. Just beyond is the new brick building Henry Ford built in exchange for the original (plus $700). |
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With the original being relocated to Greenfield Village, there was a replication of the structure made, which was built inside the Waterford Historical Society Park. The society was allowed to take measurements and extensive photos of the original to build their replica. Where Greenfield Village has the original as it was in the 1880s, the Waterford Historical Society maintains their replica as it looked in the early 1900s when it was owned by Mr. Jacober. Yeah...that's me and my buddy John sitting on the bench in front. |
So now the restoration process of the General Store has been done as accurately as can possibly be done, and one can safely assume the time-travel feeling when entering the structure.
What was it like to visit such a place in the 1880s?
You're about to find out:
Let's switch on the time machine and see...and we shall base our trip around this particular store.
So here it is, 1880.
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| Vacationers shopping at Mr. Jones' store. They seem to be giving him quite a time! |
Perhaps, like the majority of people in your time and place, you live on a farm. Yes, you are able to get along independently by making tools you may need or by growing the food you eat. But you still may need to go to town every-so-often to purchase some provisions, such as sugar, new shoes, to purchase a bit of fabric to sew new clothing, or, perhaps, you may possibly have mail waiting. This means every-so-often you will need to take the journey, either by horse and buckboard or farm wagon, or even by leg power, to the store, which could easily be several miles away, taking a half day or longer to get there.
The usual arrangement in the general store was to devote one side to dry goods. Here the women bought goods by the yard: ribbon, thread, silk, corsets, bustles (usually made of cloth stuffed with bran, hair, cotton, rags, or old newspapers), fans, gloves, handkerchiefs, shawl pins, and artificial flowers.
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| Could this be Mrs. Jones helping as Mrs. Cook contemplates purchasing a new corset? |
On the same side the men could buy paper collars, cuffs, bosoms (the part of a garment that covers the breast), ready-made neckties, suspenders, hats, shoes, and underwear.
Across from the dry goods section, near the front of the store, were the candy jars, a small selection of toys, the tobacco & cigars, the cough drops and such patent medicine as Perry Davis' Pain Killers, Radway's Ready Relief, Log Cabin Bitters, Hostetters' Bitters, and Beecham's Pills.
On the shelves were crockery, including table ware, wash bowls, and pitchers. Glasses, lamps, and earthware crocks and jugs also occupied shelves.
Across from the dry goods section, near the front of the store, were the candy jars, a small selection of toys, the tobacco & cigars, the cough drops and such patent medicine as Perry Davis' Pain Killers, Radway's Ready Relief, Log Cabin Bitters, Hostetters' Bitters, and Beecham's Pills.
On the shelves were crockery, including table ware, wash bowls, and pitchers. Glasses, lamps, and earthware crocks and jugs also occupied shelves.
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| Looking for a new pair of fancy shoes? We do have the latest fashionable footwear. |
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| Looks like the Jones' daughter was of the latest fashions. Now I do not know if JR Jones was even married, much less if he had a daughter. (But it makes a good story, now, doesn't it?) |
Next came the grocery section, with its spice-grinder and tins of spices and tea and coffee, the cheeses and cracker barrels, and the sugar barrels. The casks of rum, brandy, and gin, and the cider barrel were at the rear, where were also kept the farming implements - pitchforks, rakes, hoes, scythes, snares, whetstones, and a circular rack of horsewhips suspended from the ceiling.
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| Farming implements. |
The local general store was usually a dim, gloomy place. There were seldom windows along the sides, because the walls from the front of the store to the back were covered with shelves loaded with stock. With no electric lighting in most places in the 1880s, the main light came from the front window daylight or, sometimes with additional lighting in the rear from an oil lamp or candle sconce. "We had three gas lights," said one former store clerk, "one in front, one about the middle of the store, and one further back. Then, for the very back part of the store, we had to use candles or small oil lamps - not kerosene - to light the way. It was an advantage to the merchant in the days of hard and tricky bargains to have his store in cave-like darkness. People were often astonished at the quality and the color of their bargains when they got home.
There could be truth to the story of a deacon who is supposed to have called out to his clerk:
"John, have you dampened the tobacco?"
"Yes sir."
"Have you watered the rum?"
"Yes sir."
"Have you sanded the sugar?"
"Yes sir."
"Then come in to prayers."
There could be truth to the story of a deacon who is supposed to have called out to his clerk:
"John, have you dampened the tobacco?"
"Yes sir."
"Have you watered the rum?"
"Yes sir."
"Have you sanded the sugar?"
"Yes sir."
"Then come in to prayers."
In addition to fulfilling his role as a storekeep, the merchant was often also a politician, banker, accountant, post master, or held a number of other prominent positions. He had great knowledge of his customers, their likes and dislikes, problems, and even financial situations. This was important since he had to deal with credit and bartering. He also had to have a good handle on the needs and wants of his customers.
P. T. Barnum, perhaps the most famous showman of the 19th century, once worked at a general store.
"I stood behind the counter and was polite to the ladies, and wonderfully active in waiting upon customers," he said.
P. T. Barnum, perhaps the most famous showman of the 19th century, once worked at a general store.
"I stood behind the counter and was polite to the ladies, and wonderfully active in waiting upon customers," he said.
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| Being polite to the ladies was a top priority for a young apprentice. |
"We kept a cash, credit, and barter store, and I drove some sharp bargains with women who brought butter, eggs, beeswax, and feathers to exchange for dry goods, and with men who wanted to trade oats, corn, buckwheat, axe-helves, hats, and other commodities for tenpenny nails, molasses, or rum."
It was customary for storekeepers who had apprentices to board and lodge the young men in their own families, working them from early morning until late at night and paying them little or nothing while they were learning the tricks of the trade. Stores opened at seven in the morning and stayed open until at least nine o'clock at night. If there was any buying activity, they were kept open until ten or eleven o'clock. From another merchant who worked at such a store gave an account of his days as a young clerk back in 1854: The hours were very long and the younger clerks had a variety of work, from sweeping out the store to delivering goods. Another clerk and myself slept in the store and built the fires and swept out. There was a large hogshead (a large cask holding approximately 63 gallons of water) in the yard behind the store to catch water from the roof and we used that to sprinkle the floor.
"A great many remnants of prints were sold at sixpence, 8 1/3 cents a yard, or at twelve yards for a dollar. We used to sell nine yards for a dress pattern and the usual price was 12 1/2 cents a yard. Customers would generally try to beat down the price. Then we would come down to a dollar for the nine yards and sometimes we would have to throw in the hooks and eyes and lining for the dress in order to make the sale.
Farmers drove to town and hitched their horses on Main street, hitching posts being provided for that purpose. They also hitched their horses to the awning posts which were in front of every store.
We used to try to have customers take their parcels whenever they could, but when they would not do it we used to have to carry their goods to their homes in wheelbarrows. When I first started that was part of my job. It was no easy task to wheel a load of goods in a barrow.
The merchants used to get their goods on long time payments - six months, nine months, and even a year being taken to pay for them. Gold, silver, and paper money were all used. We (also) heard a good deal about shillings and sixpences, terms carrying over from colonial times.
So, there you are. I hope to have given you a bit of a different view of this store, for those who have visited. And if you haven't, I hope you can one day. It is pretty amazing.
It was customary for storekeepers who had apprentices to board and lodge the young men in their own families, working them from early morning until late at night and paying them little or nothing while they were learning the tricks of the trade. Stores opened at seven in the morning and stayed open until at least nine o'clock at night. If there was any buying activity, they were kept open until ten or eleven o'clock. From another merchant who worked at such a store gave an account of his days as a young clerk back in 1854: The hours were very long and the younger clerks had a variety of work, from sweeping out the store to delivering goods. Another clerk and myself slept in the store and built the fires and swept out. There was a large hogshead (a large cask holding approximately 63 gallons of water) in the yard behind the store to catch water from the roof and we used that to sprinkle the floor.
"A great many remnants of prints were sold at sixpence, 8 1/3 cents a yard, or at twelve yards for a dollar. We used to sell nine yards for a dress pattern and the usual price was 12 1/2 cents a yard. Customers would generally try to beat down the price. Then we would come down to a dollar for the nine yards and sometimes we would have to throw in the hooks and eyes and lining for the dress in order to make the sale.
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| The latest styles of hats for men. |
We used to try to have customers take their parcels whenever they could, but when they would not do it we used to have to carry their goods to their homes in wheelbarrows. When I first started that was part of my job. It was no easy task to wheel a load of goods in a barrow.
The merchants used to get their goods on long time payments - six months, nine months, and even a year being taken to pay for them. Gold, silver, and paper money were all used. We (also) heard a good deal about shillings and sixpences, terms carrying over from colonial times.
So, there you are. I hope to have given you a bit of a different view of this store, for those who have visited. And if you haven't, I hope you can one day. It is pretty amazing.
Just think...those who visited this store in the 1880s, as it is now depicted, were of the same time period as the old west.
How's that for perspective?
My sources for today's posting came from the archives of the Benson Ford Research Center as well as from a very old book I own (copyright 1938) called "American Village" by Edwin Valentine Mitchell)
Until next time, see you in time.
My sources for today's posting came from the archives of the Benson Ford Research Center as well as from a very old book I own (copyright 1938) called "American Village" by Edwin Valentine Mitchell)
Here are links to learn the deeper history of many of the structures inside the Village:
Ackley Covered Bridge 1832
At one time, covered bridges were commonplace. Not so much anymore. But Greenfield Village has one from 1832.
At one time, covered bridges were commonplace. Not so much anymore. But Greenfield Village has one from 1832.
Daggett House (part one)
Learn about the 18th century house and the family who lived there.
Daggett House (part two)
This concentrates more on the everyday life of the 18th century Daggett family, including ledger entries.
Doc Howard's Office - The World of a 19th century Doctor
It's 1850 and you're sick. Who are you going to call on? Why, good ol' Doc Howard, of course!
Eagle Tavern
Learn about the Eagle Tavern and 19th century travel
Eagle Tavern: Eating Historically
Taste history while being immersed in the 1850s
Firestone Farm at Greenfield Village
Learn about the boyhood home of Harvey Firestone, the tire magnate.
The Giddings House
Revolutionary War and possible George Washington ties are within the hallowed walls of this beautiful stately colonial home.
Loranger Gristmill (and mills in general)
Learn about the importance of the gristmill to the populace of the 18th and 19th centuries.
Noah Webster House
A quick overview of the life of this fascinating Founding Father whose home, which was nearly razed for a parking lot, is now located in Greenfield Village.
The Plympton House
This house, with its long history (including American Indians) has close ties to Paul Revere himself!
Preserving History
Henry Ford did more for preserving everyday life of the 18th and 19th centuries than anyone else! Here's proof.
Tales of Everyday Life in Menlo Park (or Francis Jehl: A Young Boy's Experience Working at Menlo Park)
Menlo Park is brought to life by one who was there. First-hand accounts.
Richart Carriage Shop
This building was much more than a carriage shop in the 19th century!
And for some haunted fun,
Ghosts of Greenfield Village
Yep - real hauntings take place in this historic Village.
Yes, some of the structures that now sit inside Greenfield Village have connections to America's fight for Independence.
Follow the route that Thomas Edison took as he rode and worked on the rails in the early 1860s.
I searched out the local Michigan locations, and another sought out the east coast locations to find where many of the buildings that have been relocated to Greenfield Village originally stood.
I compiled the photos here.
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