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Author Topic: 'General Store'?  (Read 6117 times)

Offline Cplwilks

  • Student
  • Posts: 18
'General Store'?
« on: January 31, 2013, 01:31:49 PM »
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!

Offline Cory

  • Mad Scientist
  • Posts: 990
Re: 'General Store'?
« Reply #1 on: January 31, 2013, 02:36:07 PM »
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
« Last Edit: January 31, 2013, 02:37:48 PM by Cory »
.

Offline Cplwilks

  • Student
  • Posts: 18
Re: 'General Store'?
« Reply #2 on: January 31, 2013, 02:57:41 PM »
Wow, thanks so much for the quick response and visual aid! Much appreciated :)

Offline Skrapwelder

  • Mastermind
  • Posts: 1768
  • Pluviophile
    • What Ho, Cythereans!
Re: 'General Store'?
« Reply #3 on: January 31, 2013, 03:44:02 PM »
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


Offline joroas

  • Galactic Brain
  • Posts: 7803
Re: 'General Store'?
« Reply #5 on: January 31, 2013, 04:53:27 PM »
Sometimes, a simple question on this forum elicits such an outpouring of goodness...... :o
'So do all who see such times. But that is not for us to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that we are given.'

Offline Dolmot

  • Mastermind
  • Posts: 1499
Re: 'General Store'?
« Reply #6 on: February 01, 2013, 09:27:45 PM »
I've poured half of this Chaosium's book here already but because it makes a handy starting point for all things Dunwich...

Quote
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.


Offline Cplwilks

  • Student
  • Posts: 18
Re: 'General Store'?
« Reply #7 on: February 02, 2013, 05:59:04 PM »
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  ???

Offline pocoloco

  • Scatterbrained Genius
  • Posts: 3848
Re: 'General Store'?
« Reply #8 on: February 02, 2013, 06:15:06 PM »

Offline Treebeard

  • Mad Scientist
  • Posts: 732
  • Lazy French Painter
    • Painting Log
Re: 'General Store'?
« Reply #9 on: February 06, 2013, 02:25:54 PM »
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)

Online Mr.J

  • Mastermind
  • Posts: 1704
Re: 'General Store'?
« Reply #10 on: February 07, 2013, 12:21:17 AM »
Check out Ainsty:





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

Offline Cplwilks

  • Student
  • Posts: 18
Re: 'General Store'?
« Reply #11 on: February 14, 2013, 09:16:30 PM »
Thanks for the suggestions guys!

Offline bennyj

  • Assistant
  • Posts: 25
Re: 'General Store'?
« Reply #12 on: February 22, 2013, 05:09:50 PM »

 

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