14

Gordon Christiansen explains how selling cream enabled farmers to buy staple products
2002

15

The store acted as a bank. Carl not only extended credit but also cashed weekly cream cheques from the nearby Markerville creamery.

"Cream cheques were a big part of what people used for food in those days. And they would bring their cream in here in the wintertime and it would be piled right inside the door; the cans would be set there, and then Chris Christiansen, Chicago Chris, would pick it up there and take it to Markerville and then he brought the cheques along back here and we kept them here until they'd come in and ask for their cheque, you see. And most of the time they would cash them and apply them on their account."

16

Gordon Christiansen describes some of the items used for barter
2001

17

The general store accepted goods on a barter system for many years. This system was incredibly important to the people of Dickson in times when cash was in short supply.

"No had any money. Traded with, took fenceposts and so on in trade; lumber, and chickens, eggs, butter, all that sort of thing was what they traded in. So, there was actually not that much money handled."

18

Bowl, paddles and press used to make butter for trade at store
1930

19

Farmers could exchange butter, cream, and eggs produced on their own farms for items at the store.

20

Egg crate used to pack and transport eggs
1930

21

Often the farmers didn't have egg crates so they used washtubs filled with grain to safely transport the eggs. Carl and Laura's oldest children, Homo and Esther, often got the job of digging out the eggs and placing them in crates. The eggs were then transported to Innisfail where they were shipped by train to Calgary.

22

Pens and barn at back of store to keep livestock.
1923
Dickson, Alberta, Canada

23

On occasion, Carl would take in different types of livestock. A barn and small pasture were provided at the store for the keep of chickens, turkeys, hogs and even cattle.

24

Butchering a pig
1930
Dickson, Alberta, Canada

25

Neighbours often did the slaughtering of these animals, sending shipments as far as Calgary to the Palliser Hotel.

26

Butter in cold storage room
1930

27

The Dickson Store had a cold storage room where eggs, cream, butter and meat was stored and kept fresh.