A surviving Hockinson store record gives an unusually detailed look at what rural households were buying—and paying—in 1896.
The student history “Hockinson Store Prices — 1896,” by Glen A. Wooldridge, drew from Peter Onsdorff's store day book beginning January 1, 1896. The record preserved names, purchases and prices across hundreds of pages.
Examples recorded in the history include 25 pounds of beef for $1.25, a broom for 30 cents, shoes for $1.50, overalls for 60 cents a pair, 100 pounds of flour for $1.15, a dozen eggs for 9 cents and a gallon of kerosene for 20 cents.
Other entries included flannel, calico, garden seeds, stockings, pepper, castor oil and washboards. The store also sometimes accepted farm products in trade, illustrating how cash purchases and barter could overlap in a rural economy.
The list is more than a collection of cheap-looking old prices. It shows what families needed: food staples, clothing, fuel, medicine, household equipment and farm-related goods. Modern inflation comparisons can be useful, but they should remain separate from the original nominal prices recorded in the 1896 source.
Explore our Hockinson 1896 Mercantile heritage collection, inspired by this documented local store history.
Historical sources
- Glen A. Wooldridge, “Hockinson Store Prices — 1896”
- Peter Onsdorff store day-book material beginning Jan. 1, 1896
- Historic Peter and Ida Brown Onsdorff family/store record
Explore more Hockinson
Explore the complete Hockinson history hub · Read about Hockinson's old general stores · Shop Hockinson heritage apparel
0 comments