1

Homesteading was never easy and the families of Dickson had their share of tough times. By founding the store, Carl and Laura provided to Dickson the material means by which the community could survive and flourish.

2

Carl Christiansen's invoicing and account notebook
1915

3

Carl and Laura were often known to lend a helping hand when a customer was in a financial bind.

4

Store during the Depression Years
1930
Dickson, Alberta, Canada

5

One immigrant who moved to Dickson during the dirty thirties didn't have enough money to buy a pair of shoes, so Carl lent him the money until he could pay him back.

6

Carl and Homo Christiansen outside store.
1939
Dickson, Alberta, Canada

7

In a similar situation Carl and Homo (the oldest son) loaned a young man from Innisfail some money. That kind deed was never forgotten. Several times he sent a gift when there was a wedding in the Christiansen family. A new farmer from the Craig district, recalled that Carl and Homo let him have shingles and lumber to build a granary for his first crop. He had thought that he would have to store this crop on the ground so was very grateful for the supplies.

8

Conversation with a Danish pioneer
1999

9

The store provided to its local customers without worry of credit ratings and interest rates. During cold winters or when hard times struck, the general store often carried people for months. Without this kind credit, some customers would have surely starved. Carl generously provided credit, letting them pay when they got their crops off.

"I'll say this for Carl Christiansen, the storekeep. He tidied a lot of people over. I know that he would go and settle with these people about once a year. And he let them have groceries that they needed and then when he came out and tried to get some money or something out of them, he would buy stuff off of them for way more than he could sell it for. He managed to keep the business going and a lot of poor people too."

10

Charge account record of customer purchases
3 November 1956

11

On a number of occasions, farmers with a large store debt who entered with cash in hand were able to purchase essentials instead of having to pay on the debt. In some cases, when the bill had been run too high, a pig, a steer or even a quarter section of land would make the balance more reasonable.

12

Customer account records cabinet
1930

13

However, some debts were never settled and the store had to take the loss.

14

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