AMERICA 1900-1910 -- 'THE OLD HOMETOWN' (Part 2)

SEIFERT

Posted By: David (email)
Date: 3/7/2004 at 21:18:59

'AMERICA 1900-1910'

'The Old Hometown'

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BIG CITY DOWN RIVER

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One hundred miles to the east of Dorrance lay the bigger, more bumptious hometown of Junction City, Kansas. Thanks to its handy location at the junction of the Republican and Smoky Hill Rivers, it was a thriving business center of 5,000 citizens. And there was not one of them who was not proud of the way the town had grown: by 1900 there were a full score of restaurants. The matching complement of drug, department and food stores drew the farmers from miles around and kept the natives prosperous.

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Picture: The Loeb & Hollis Drug Store, one of the best in Junction City, sold perfume, cigars and "fancy goods", and had a soda fountain, latest in drugstore fixtures.

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'Drugstore Prices'

SODA FOUNTAIN

Ice Cream Soda - 10 cents
Plain Soda - 5 cents
Root Beer Float - 5 cents
Sundae - 10 cents
Cantaloupe Sundae - 15 cents
Egg Drinks - 10 cents
Tonic Water - 10 cents
Grape Lemonade 15 cents
Orangeade - 5 cents
Lemon Phosphate - 5 cents
Buttermilk - 5 cents
Egg Milk Chocolate - 10 cents
Coffee (iced or hot) - 10 cents
Cakes - 5 cents

DRUGS

Witch Hazel - 25 cents
Aruica Salve - 10 cents
Bromo Seltzer - 10 cents
Wine of Cardui - $1.00
Cough Syrup - 25 cents
Corn Plasters - 10 cents
Wart Remover - 10 cents
Castoria - 35 cents
St. Jacob's Oil - 25 cents
Hair Balsam - 50 cents

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Picture: Frey's New Cafe, on the main street, was open all night, and served such delicacies as oysters in season. The stairs led to private dining rooms.

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'Dinner Menu'

APPETIZERS

Cantaloupe, half - 10 cents
Sliced Orange - 10 cents
Young Onions - 5 cents
Sliced tomatoes - 10 cents
New Radishes - 5 cents
Sliced Cucumbers - 10 cents

SOUP - Old Fashioned Navy Bean - 10 cents

MAIN COURSE

Channel Catfish - 20 cents
Pork Tenderloins - 20 cents
Omelet with Jelly - 15 cents
Roast Pork, Apple Sauce - 20 cents
Chicken Fricassee - 20 cents
Roast Beef - 15 cents
Pork and Beans - 15 cents
Boston Baked Beans - 10 cents

VEGETABLES

Corn on the Cob - 10 cents
Buttered Beets - 5 cents
Mashed Potatoes - 5 cents
Pickled Beets - 5 cents
Cold Slaw - 5 cents
Mashed Potatoes - 5 cents
Salad - 20 cents

DESSERT

Lemon Layer Cake - 5 cents
Raspberries and Cream - 10 cents
Ice Cream - 10 cents
Rhubarb Pie - 5 cents
Ice Cream and Cake - 15 cents
Green Apple Pie - 5 cents

BEVERAGES

Coffee - 5 cents
Milk - 5 cents
Tea - 5 cents
Buttermilk - 5 cents

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Picture: Aproned butchers at the Park Meat Market, named for its parkside location, stand ready to cut a customer's meats to order. Wild game was a shop specialty.

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'Meat & Poultry Prices'

Spring Chicken - 7 cents per pound
Beef - 10 cents per pound
Sausage - 12 l/2 cents per pound
Roosters - 15 cents each
Hens - 7 cents per pound
Pork - 10 cents per pound
Turkey - 10 cents per pound
Duck - 6 cents per pound
Duck, Dressed - 10 cents per pound
Veal - 10 cents per pound
Breakfast Bacon - 12 l/2 cents per pound
Goose - 5 cents per pound

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Picture: Latham's Grocery had staples, canned goods and produce. The wood stove, which provided the store's only heat, and a coffee mill stand at the rear.

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'Grocery Prices'

PRODUCE AND DAIRY PRODUCTS

Red Apples - 30 cents/pk.
Seed Potatoes - 35 cents/bu.
Onion Sets - 3 qt./25 cents
Oranges - 20 cents/doz.
Lemons - 15 cents/doz.
Dried Apricots - 10 cents/lb.
Dried Prunes - 5 cents/lb.
Eggs - 12 cents/doz.
Butter - 18 cents/lb.
Swiss Cheese - 25 cents/lb.

HOUSEWARES

Scrub Brush - 15 cents
Lye - 5 cents
Garden Seed - 2 for 5 cents
Starch - 10 cents
Toilet Soap - 3 for 15 cents
Candles - 1 box/15 cents

CANNED GOODS

Golden Cream Corn - 10 cents
String Beans - 10 cents
Tomatoes - 20 cents
Early June Peas - 10 cents
Sliced Peaches - 25 cents
Boston Baked Beans - 10 cents
Oysters - 20 cents
Jams - 10 cents
Green Turtle Meat - $2.75
Sardines in Oil - 5 cents

STAPLES

Tea - 40 cents
Coffee 15 cents/lb.
Cocoa - 25 cents
Macaroni - 10 cents
Hominy Grits - 10 cents
Sugar 100 lbs./ $5.80
Salt - 100 lbs./ 20 cents
Salad Dressing - 25 cents
Baking Powder - 10 cents
Gelatine - 15 cents

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Picture: The Pegues, Wright Department Store sold dry goods on the main floor. Baskets holding the customers' change and receipts clacked to and fro on overhead trolleys.

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'Department Store Prices'

LADIES' WEAR

Tailor-made Suit - $10.00
Skirt - $4.00
Chemise - 50 cents
Bracelet - 35 cents
Shoes - $l.50
Waist - $3.00
Corset - 40 cents
Shawl - 50 cents
Silk Petticoat - $5.00
Bead Purse - 59 cents

MEN'S WEAR

Fancy Suit - $9.00
Trousers - $1.25
Shirts - 50 cents
Woolen hose - 15 cents
Suspenders - 25 cents
Coat and Vest - $7.00
Linen Collar - 25 cents
Hat - $2.00
Underwear - 50 cents
Work Shoes - $1.25

HOUSE FURNISHINGS

Blanket - 35 cents
Carpet - 12 cents/yd.
Hammock - $3.50
Wallpaper - roll/5 cents
42-Piece Dinner Set - $2.95
Sheet, Double Bed - 58 cents

DRESS GOODS

Gingham - 12 l/2 cents/yd.
Madras Cloth - 10 cents/yd.
Taffeta - 85 cents/yd.
Calico - 6 cents/yd.
Pins - box/5 cents
Sewing Machine - $12.00
Embroidery - 8 cents
Silk - 50 cents/yd.
Damask - 40 cents/yd.

To Be Continued . . . "The Ladies"!!

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Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
March 1, 2004