THE GENERAL STORE
services - post office

post office in a general store

A post office was set up in one corner of the store. People purchased stamps and money orders and picked up mail.

Before the railroad arrived, mail was delivered by ox-cart, wagon, stagecoach or horseback. If the train stopped in the community, mail would arrive several times a week.

MAIL :

• Writing letters was the only way to keep in touch with family who lived far away.
• Some people subscribed to newspapers which came from the cities.
• Once the mail order catalogues arrived the post office served as a delivery place for the items that people ordered from the catalogue.

from Eaton's Catalogue 1899-1900 coat | baby carriage | camera