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Variety of provisions carried by the store1930
15
But it did not take Carl and Laura much time at all to fill the Dickson store with almost everything a pioneer farmer and his family could need, or even want, such as food, housewares, hardware, medicine, and dry goods.16
Cheese and cheese cutter1930
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Vinegar barrel1930
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Coffee grinder1930
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Sample of dry goods available at store1930
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Variety of tools used by pioneers1930
21
Carl Christiansen waiting on customers1912
Dickson, Alberta, Canada
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On May 24, 1909, the doors of Carl Christensen's General Store were opened. A smiling Carl welcomed each customer. He was wearing a white shirt, a requirement of his employment in Omaha and now to become a daily custom in his own store.23
Gordon Christiansen describes what it was like when a customer entered the store2002
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The entrance of each eager patron was accompanied by the sound of a ringing bell above the front door. This sound became a store trademark. A customer recalls that on her first visit to the store she was most impressed by the ringing bell!"When the farmers came in, they would come in the door and walk down here to the counter and Dad would be standing here. In those days you didn't go, the customer didn't go and pick up their own goods off the shelves. They would hand you a slip of paper, and the wife had written the order on it and then it was up to us to fill the order for them. And meantime, they would stand around and there was a box here with free tobacco in. They would roll a smoke or fill their pipe and stand there and smoke and exchange gossip with the other farmers that were here."
25
Unloading wagons in front of store1920
Dickson, Alberta, Canada
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In early years, Carl kept a good team and wagon on hand to haul his supplies from Innisfail. He did freighting for others as it worked in with his own. Carl hired local teamsters to haul shipments to and from the store.27
Christiansen and Sons Store Truck1930
Dickson, Alberta, Canada
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