Ledgersolo

1848 General Store Ledger

When the first train came to Kalamazoo in 1846, it was the beginning of a new day for the settlers in the region. The train brought in many more goods than could be brought in by wagon. The train also brought goods in more often, and it gave the settlers more choices at the general store. With a wider selection of goods, life on the frontier became a little nicer with each passing day. The items you see in the display cases and on the hands-on wall are the types of things settlers could purchase. Each can be found on the pages of the ledger book displayed in the case in front of you. The ledger dates to 1848, and it's from the Goss & Darling general store in Kalamazoo. Mr. Darling recorded every purchase made in the store, every item traded with him, and all payments that shoppers made on their accounts. Before you leave, take a look at the ledger and Mr. Darling's handwritten entries. Can you make out any of the items sold at the store? 

Kalamazoo Direct to You - Highlights
  1. Checker Cab
  2. Smelting Pot
  3. Gibson Guitars
  4. Homer Stryker and his Revolutionary Bed
  5. Upjohn's Pills
  6. A. M. Todd
  7. People of the Three Fires
  8. The General Store
  9. New Settlers to Kalamazoo: The Importance of the General Store
  10. Something for Everyone at the General Store
  11. The Finer Things in Life: Saving for the General Store
  12. Hub of Information: The General Store
  13. 1848 General Store Ledger
  14. Farm Life 1860-1940
  15. Entertainment 1860-1920
  16. "Wash Day"
  17. Food Preparation 1870-1930
  18. Squirrel Tailed Pumper
  19. The Kalamazoo Mall
  20. Victor Gruen: The Man with a Plan
  21. Dreams We Shared
  22. The 1980 Kalamazoo Tornado
  23. Lincoln's Speech
  24. Mystery of the Mummy