15 Photos Inside the General Stores of Early 20th Century

You could find a little bit of everything in a old-fashioned general store, from tea to coffee to suspenders, including all manner of special order items. Even into the 20th century, general stores in many areas remained an important community asset, not only for the goods they provided, but also as a gathering place. A large stove centrally located in the shop would often serve as a meeting spot for folks to gather and talk or to play checkers. General stores are hard to find today, but these old photos bring the past back into focus.

General stores were an important part of local society back in those days and folks treated it as such, with courtesy being a fundamental guide to how they did business. Pioneers and farmers depended on trading posts and general stores to see them through, often using credit for the first year until they had some crops and livestock to sell. General stores were still lifelines in many communities until after World War II.

General stores may be all but extinct, but once upon a time they were essential to small towns and big cities alike. This quaint part of American life may be largely gone, but it is not forgotten!