5

Denis Kercier
7/19/72
Mary Zurko

The propriotors of the company store were Mr. Kellep in the
late 1800's and early 1900's, Evan C. Reese, and then Mr.
Shoepok. There was anything - would take you out of town in
a car to get any furniture you wanted. It would be delivered
to the company store. "Bridgie" O'Donnell worked for Evan
as bookkeeper. He lives on Washington Street in Freeland.
His phone number is listed under Nellie.
The contents of the company store were yard goods: cottons,
linens, silks, "outian" flannel which was used for girls'
winter slips and nighties; paints: lead based, enamel, stain;
shoes: work, boots, rubbers; molasses in a keg; vinegar in
a keg or cask; box cakes: ten pound box of good cakes or
cookies, approximately 21/3 x 1' x1' of Hitchmen's brand and
crackers in boxes with lids on top; patent machines; shave
cream: ready-made clothes; hardware: tools, rakes, brooms,
brushes, etc. ; fresh fish: flounder, shad, smelts, oysters;
kitchen cabinets from $60 to $65; young plants, seeds, fert-
ilizer, feed; rugs, curtains, draperies, thread.
Proprietors went to surrounding towns to get people goods
they wanted. They got them wholesale.
Mr. William Bachman took weekly orders, house-to-house.
He came around on Friday with the store wagon full of sauer-
kraut, fish, cake, and all kinds of food.

(c. 1905) A roving gang of fellows went all oer the area.
They tried once to break into homes but were chased by a group
of Eckley "vigilantes". They shot at them "low" so as not
to hurt them. "Only trouble we ever had."
Coal and Iron Police watched for coal pickin! "If you
were arrested, the company would fire you. So you had to move
to a new town or change your name." Most of the people who
changed their names and/or moved did so to avoid paying their
company store bills. If caught picking coal, the Coal and
Iron Police would chase the "thief" and/or break their buck-
ets.
Union people had arguments but never really battled.