'General Store'?

[Cplwilks]

Greetings fellow cultists - a couple of us are playing SA at the moment and have decided to build a themed 'Dunwich' board (as many people on here seem to do, thanks for all the inspiration!)

I've decided to try and build 'Osborn's General Store'  as from the book.  However, I have absolutley no idea what a General store from the 1920's would have.  What did they sell?  I like to do interiors for my buildings and have no clue really what to fill it up with...

Any help or suggestions would be greatfully received!

[Cory]

The general store of the 20s was a holdover from the same ones found in the Old West. If the town had grown and specialty stores had appeared some lines of goods might be dropped, but for the most part general stores tried to carry all dry food goods (so no meat or dairy) and any other items, much a like a mini department store. Glass and oak display cases would be common, bulk items in barrels, jars with candies, buttons, dried fruits, and other bright and small sundries on the counters, and floor to ceiling pigeon hole shelving behind the counters with the more valuable items. Also on the counter would be a roll of brown paper and a cone of twine for packaging.

Because customers were not allowed to freely handle most of the merchandise, a U shaped counter configuration was most common, often with a center table or collection of barrels.

Many general stores doubled as a postoffice so again a smaller pigeon hole shelving system might be there.

Here's a good example   http://theholepicture.photoshelter.com/image/I000021KwF9tdTV8

[Cplwilks]

Wow, thanks so much for the quick response and visual aid! Much appreciated

[Skrapwelder]

As far as the exterior goes Osborn's store was a converted church.

"...the broken-steepled church now harbours the one slovenly mercantile establishment of the hamlet."

If you can find episodes of The Waltons on You Tube there were some good interior shots of the store from time to time

[achab]

More fine examples:

http://trovegeneral.com/2012/06/26/holding-it-down-general-stores-and-their-owners/

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D_j8Y41A5Gs/TBlDKKOt8JI/AAAAAAAABJ8/mbfth1iJGuo/s1600/general+store.jpg

http://www.granvillemuseumnc.org/2012-summersensations/2012-online-exhibit-old-oxford/interior-of-general-store-at%20Stem-%20Granville%20County%20NC.jpg

http://www.chapleaulibrary.com/crichton/VC4/206.JPG

[joroas]

Sometimes, a simple question on this forum elicits such an outpouring of goodness......

[Dolmot]

I've poured half of this Chaosium's book here already but because it makes a handy starting point for all things Dunwich...

Dunwich's only commercial establishment the store, housed in the old Congregational Church, is operated by Joe Osborn, age 34. The store has been in business since 1751, providing the citizens of Dunwich with their basic needs. A hand-operated gas pump stands outside, while to the west of the building, hidden by overgrown trees and shadows, is a small cemetery once used by the congregation of the short-lived church. About two dozen headstones can be found here, all dated between 1745 and 1747.

Inside the store, dusty shelves and counters display a variety of canned goods, yard goods, farm tools, newspapers and magazines, knives, flashlights, rope, chain, fishing equipment, rounds of ammunition, a few faded dresses on hangers, and common household items.
--
Osborn's also serves as the local Post Office.

[Cplwilks]

Thanks for all the further info!

Somewhat perplexed now what to use as the basis of it - originally I had planned to use This but now I know it was a church I'm not sure if this will be okay 

[pocoloco]

How about using this as a base:

http://www.hovelsltd.co.uk/acw_25mm.htm

Or then more pricy:

http://www.architectsofwar.com/meetinghousechurchkit.aspx

[Treebeard]

You can also find something usefull in Sarrissa Range

http://www.sarissa-precision.co.uk/store/oldwestHR/ (Old West)
http://www.sarissa-precision.co.uk/store/northamerican/ (North American)

[Mr.J]

Check out Ainsty:





I'm sure things like this, amongst others, might come in handy.

[Cplwilks]

Thanks for the suggestions guys!

[bennyj]

or the very reasonably priced:

http://www.renedra.co.uk/webstore.html#AmericanChurch