SRHS
Steamboat Rock Historical Society
A NEW CENTURY
THE GENERAL STORE
Two views of the Johnson Brothers Stores
There were a large number of general and dry-goods stores that came on the scene after 1900. Some changed hands and others simply changed with the times.
One general merchandise store owned by Elda Christians changed when in 1905 L. G. (Lou, short for Louis) Johnson purchased one-half interest from Mr. Christians. Mr. Johnson had some new ideas, and the stock was increased to include men’s and ladies clothing. This partnership continued until 1909 when Henry Johnson Lou’s brother purchased the Christians interest in the store. The Johnson brothers continued the general store until Henry retired in 1914, and sold his half to his brother who relocated the business in a new building on the south side of market street in 1917. Lou Johnson, continued running the business until 1933, when Ben Johnson, (a cousin) purchased Lou’s stock and operated the business until he retired in 1950. On retiring Ben sold out the goods and the building was sold.
L.G. Johnson’s Store built in 1917 and sold to his cousin Ben Johnson in 1933 who ran it until he retired in 1950.
Home of William Asher on Market street which now houses the library. His general store was located to the right across the ally. That building was last used by John and Harriet Burns until it burned.
William Fred Asher who operated a creamery on his farm in the late 1880’s also did masonry and carpenter work. In 1905, he moved into town and built a new store where he sold general merchandise. The store became known as “Asher and Son General Store,” and occupied the building that was last used by Burn’s Grocery until fire drove them to their final location in what is now part of the Green Door.
Inside T.J. (Tom) Eilers General Store in Steamboat Rock. Tom is standing on the right. Harry Luiken is in the center. Lucille (Dolly) Eilers is in white on the left. Dolly (later Mrs. Harry Folkerts) ran a beauty shop in her uncle Tom’s store.
Charles (Charlie) Sentman a young man came to Steamboat Rock with ambition for the newspaper business. He purchased the local Steamboat Rock Pilot paper in 1906 and operated it for a time and then moved to Union, and returned to start another paper the Star. Unsuccessful in the newspaper business, he went into the retail business in the building formerly owned by Lou Johnson and vacated when Johnson moved to his new location across the street in 1917. Sentman opened his store in this location in 1930. Charlie, as he was known became a respected merchant in Steamboat Rock, and later opened a second store in Wellsburg. In 1937, he sold his Steamboat Rock store to his brother-in-law T.J. (Tom) Eilers and turned all his attention to his Wellsburg store, while maintaining his residence in Steamboat.
Tom Eilers ran the very successful general store for the next two decades seeing greater changes in the business than ever before.
Merchandising methods changed over the years along with the change from horse and buggy to the automobile. A half century ago most merchandise was traded for farm produce such as eggs at prices as low as 6 cents a dozen, potatoes at 25 to 35 cents a bushel, dairy butter; good, bad, and not too good at 15 cents a pound.
Peddling wagons were used to cover surrounding territory usually operated by boys 18 to 20 years of age, as automobiles were few and far between.
Fresh vegetables were not often sold, everyone had a home garden.
Packaged groceries as we know them today were still unknown. Paper bags did not come on the scene until 1910. Brown straw paper was used for wrapping.
Calico was a popular dress material, and sold 10 yards for 60 cents. Ladies hose sold at 10 and 15 cents, deluxe 25 and 50 cents.