The General Store

     Our general store was built in 1889 in Buford, Arkansas, by George N. Nelson. It was located across the street from the school house that is in the Village today. 

     If you had lived in the late 1800s, you'd have been able to tell it was a store even if it didn't have a sign. All you'd have to do is look on the front porch. There you'd see one of the most important items in the store -- a coal oil pump. Coal oil was the best lighting fuel available in the Ozarks at that time. You'd also see scales, on which were weighed both outgoing and incoming goods. Bars on the windows were made from wagon wheels straightened out by the blacksmith.

     This particular store had a well or cistern on the other side of the porch. Things to be kept cool were lowered into the well, which helped keep them fresh. 

     Inside the store you'll find yard goods for making clothing; stone-ground corn meal; some canned and boxed foods; a few patent medicines; and tobacco, both leaf and wrapped.

     Back behind the counter you'll find the store safe. Mr. Nelson let regular customers use the safe because the nearest bank was in Mountain Home, quite some distance by horse and buggy.

     Also part of the general store was the Post Office. In addition to taking care of the regular mail, the postmaster would read and write letters for residents who could not read or write themselves. The hole in the left front door is for use as a mail drop when the store was not open.