A Delta Story: The Old Post Office In The Company Store

Story and Photos by Dru Duncan

" The day was dusty hot as Gladys West walked along the gravel road and past her neighbor's homes. She was on her way to the post office inside the company store, only a half mile distance. Most days, she would stop along the way and share gossip with her friends, but today she was to pick up a shipment as soon as possible. The postmaster sent her a message of the arrival earlier that morning. He would be expecting her.

    Gladys entered the company store a bit out of breath. The screen door slammed loudly behind her as she nodded to the clerk and a couple of friends. She headed straight to the post office service window without stopping to exchange conversation with anyone.

   “I'm here to pick up my grandson," she told the postmaster. "His name is David. I believe he came by parcel post.” Mr. Holt looked up over his glasses and shook his head. “Yes, Mrs. Adams. He's right here beside me. Came in on Richardson's route.” 

    Little David was indeed there and had arrived through the post safe and sound. Gladys collected her delivery and headed home, telling the postmaster that her grandson would be returned in a week for shipment back to his parents. The price of stamps was a lot less than a train ticket. . ."

Want to read more?

Go to: 2018 Summer Issue Country Rustic Magazine

There you can download the complete magazine in E-MAGAZINE form.

Note: J. B. Richardson was the first postmaster in Dell, AR. Gladys and David are purely fictional.

Article was dedicated to Marguerite Brownlee, who was postmaster for over forty years and who donated the old Dell Post Office to our historic district.  

Hope you enjoy it!

A Daunting Task: Inventory, Repair, and a New Look for the Smith Grocery Museum

One of my very favorite places to hang out and reminisce on a regular basis is our almost 100 year old grocery museum. . .It's hard to believe that the building is that old. . .Built in 1919 by my grandfather Earl Magers, the store was located on Second Street in Dell. Over the years, it was rented by several store owners. Granddaddy owned it until ca. 1956, when he deeded it over to my Mom, my brother, and myself. I have such fond memories of the C A Smith Grocery Store from my growing up years that when we moved the building to Duncan Farmstead, no other name for it was right. I was able to use an old photograph to get the sign as much like the original as possible. 

While the exterior of the building resembles C. A.'s store, the interior does not. We were so blessed to have had so many donations from local people that we wanted to incorporate them into a typical company store. Thanks to Marguerite Brownlee and Marcia Partin, we have wonderful store fixtures and glass displays from the Brownlee Store and one of the early Dell Post Offices down to the postal directory. I cannot thank them enough for allowing us to save this part of Dell history. One of the displays dates back to 1903 and was first used in an early Dell establishment.

To fill those displays, in the beginning, I relied on family items and my collections. . .Now, almost ten years later, we have had numerous donations from friends in the Dell area, as well as others who live further away but knew of our project. We are grateful for each and every donation and have assured the donors that these items will continue on here at the historic district in the future. 

Which brings me to the daunting task at hand. It's time to put things in order and inventory each and every item. While listing our inventory, we are also changing the items within the store to better display all the generous donations and less of the family possessions. . .and to reflect the early 20th century time period. 

When we begin to 'restock' the shelves, our plans are to restore the donated items to their original appearance, as much as possible.. Repair, paint, and polish is in the work ahead of us. But first comes the weeding out of personal collections and family items for an estate sale and the inventory of all that will stay with the Historic District. . .Yes, a daunting task. . .but a definite step forward in protecting our local heritage.

We have a LOT of work ahead of us. . .

and we have several changes to make. . .

but I'm excited about the project, 

 knowing it will all come together. . .one day. . .

Ten Feisty Women, One Brave Man and A Farm Style Photo Shoot at C A's Grocery

 

I'm so glad I can let you in on a SECRET. . .I've been bursting at the seams ever since October. . .when TEN GALS and ONE GUY from TEMPS PLUS in Blytheville, Arkansas. . .visited the farm for a FUN-FILLED photo shoot. . .Now that the ad has come out in several MAGAZINES. . .and I'm told on billboards in Blytheville and Osceola. . .I can break my silence. . .

 

 

 

 

 

These LADIES. . .and ONE GENT. . .put on their BOOTS AND JEANS. . .

donned those CLASSIC WHITE T's. . .

and got their FARM STYLE ON. . .

While the photographer went to work, I snapped several behind-the-scene shots. . .

 

 

 

 

 

And here they are in the

HOLIDAY EDITION OF DELTA CROSSROADS. . .

 

 

 

 

 

Check out the rest of DELTA CROSSROADS. . .a magazine that celebrates LIFE IN THE DELTA. . .  They are FREE at banks, museums, and public places all across Northeast Arkansas. . .or. . .view the entire HOLIDAY ISSUE at: Delta Crossroads Magazine

And please. . .

TOOT YOUR HORN 

if you see us on those BILLBOARDS. . .

 

LIFE IS GOOD. . .

 

 

 

Snow Cream Anyone?

Waking to a Winter Wonderland is pretty much a novelty for us. . .but that's what we found this morning--March 5--when normally we'd be seeing jonquils raising their heads out of the ground. . .

The farmhouse porch was as far as I thought I should venture. . .Drifts are almost neck high in places. . .but isn't it beautiful? . .Old Man Winter's last calling card. . .

And just when I thought it would be days before we could dig out. . .along comes Good Neighbor Billy to clear our drive. . .

Ahhhhh. . .LIFE IS GOOD. . .

Inside the Company Store: Post a Letter or Make a Deal

During the Depression Era, the Company Store was the place of much activity. . .Here sharecroppers and tenants bought (usually on credit) their seeds and supplies. . . shopped for food and clothing. . .posted a letter or received their order from Sears Roebuck and Company. . .made contracts for farmland. . .to sharecrop or to rent acreage. . .It's the place where everyone met to talk about the crops or hear the latest gossip. . .Notices were posted. . .The latest news was heard on the radio. . .

It's not much different at the Duncan Farmstead today. . .It's the place our groups gather. . .Purchase their candy and other items. . .Learn more information about the Depression Era. . .Maybe get a lesson in Rag Rug Weaving. . .As the Company Store was, it still is. . .The HEART of the farmstead.

The Company Store might also house the Farm Manager's Office. . .Here the farmers met with the 'boss man'--discussing the terms of the sharecropping or tenant contract and the line of credit they needed to carry them and their families through the season. . .until crops were harvested and sold. . .This was called 'the furnish'. . .The manager or land owner sold the crop that the farmers tended and harvested during the year. . .Then they'd meet back in the office to 'settle up'. . .(SEE: Sharecroppers and Tenants ) . . .

We have Marguerite Brownlee of Dell to thank for our Company Store Post Office. . .She was Postmaster in Dell for many, many years. . .When that facility was up-graded, she had the foresight to store this original Dell Post Office so that it didn't end up in the dump. . .She saved the rent boxes. . .the cage. . .the cubby holes. . .the scales. . .the tables. . .and numerous other Postal Service items. . . They sat in the storage room for many years at Brownlee's Store on Main Street in Dell, waiting for the day to be seen again. . .and that day came a few years ago when the Brownlee Store building had to razed. . .What a surprise it was when Mrs. Brownlee and her family generously offered the vintage Post Office to us. . .We were working on the interior of the Company Store. . .not sure how we'd come up with the displays we needed. . .Of course, we jumped at the chance--knowing that many country and company stores housed the community post office. . .We were so grateful for the opportunity.

 

Other vintage items came from donations and family. . .The Aladin's Lamp was donated by Bobby Hogan. . .The Mule Collar Mirror by Joe Chipman. . .Postal Stamps by Don Davis who also worked for the Post Office in another town. . .The office desk served my Grandmother Duncan for years. . .and Daddy after that. . .His vintage Underwood typewriter sits there. . .It was Daddy's first and last typewriter. . .He never up-graded and used it everyday. . .He said a new one--or a computer--wouldn't know what he wanted to say. . .The drawers still store his office supplies, tapes, and files. . .just as he left them. . .

The 1938 Desk Diary was my Granddaddy's (Earl Magers). . .and the ledgers were found stored in a barn at my parents home. . .

It has taken us years to gather everything and display it for our visitors to enjoy. . .It's been a monumental task. . .but I think it's finally done. . .Now it's time to sit back and enjoy telling the old stories. . .and welcome visitors as they participate in a piece of Delta history.

It's also the place I go to manage our farmstead. . .A place to open mail. . .pay bills. . .enter receipts in the ledger. . .correspond with others. . .The old radio still plays gospel music each morning. . .with news and updates every hour. . .Not so very different from 80+ years ago. . .A simple but busy life style. . .As it was. . .and as it is. . .

LIFE IS GOOD. . .

 

Post Script: My apologies for poor quality of the photos. . .For some reason, it is very difficult to photograph the back office and postal area. . .I suppose there's not enough light?. . .To our 21st century eyes, the colors seem rather dark and forbidding at times. . .but this isn't 2014. . .Nope. . .It's 1938. . .and 'just the way it was'. . .All the newest and best. during the Depression Era.

Ready for a Sneak Peek Inside the Company Store?

Guess I've teased you long enough. . .I think it's time I give you a peek at what we call our Company Store. . .But first, I need to give you a little history lesson. . .

Most larger farms and plantations in the Delta maintained what was called a Company Store that was located within the farm complex. . .Anyone who sharecropped or worked for the 'company' was expected to buy from that store. . .Often prices were inflated but at the same time, most farm workers didn't have the money to maintain themselves and their family through the year. . .So the Company would issue credit to them and "settle up" when the crops came in and were sold. . .Of course, the Company did all the selling so they could withhold any money to pay the outstanding bills. . .On most farm/plantations, the store might be open to the public also--for cash sales. . .A few plantation stores were warehouses that opened 1-2 days per week only for anyone associated with the farm.

Granddaddy never actually owned a Company Store. . .While he had quite a bit of acreage, his farms were scattered throughout Mississippi Country, each with a farm complex of it's own. . .If a store was located at any of the complexes, it was run by someone not directly connected to the farm. . .but they were required to rent the building from Granddaddy.

In order to preserve a part of our Delta history and to teach visitors the plantation system, we moved the C. A. Smith Grocery from Dell to the Duncan Farmstead. . .The exterior is preserved as it was when C. A. ran the store in Dell. . .The interior is not. . .It reflects a Company Store during the Depression Era. . .

Granddaddy actually constructed the original building ca. 1919 for the black community in Dell. . .Someone in the Magers family has always owned it from 1919 to the present day. . .It was rented to the store keepers. . .Sometime in the late 40s, when mechanization took over the farms and the black community began to leave, C. A. took over the grocery and remained there until he retired ca 1975. . . The building was rented from then on mostly for storage.

When we moved the building to our farmstead, it was nothing but a shell. . .an empty building. . .John did all the carpentry, electrical work, and general renovations. . .It took four years to complete.

Through the generous donations from Marguarite Brownlee in Dell, we have an original Post Office from Dell, vintage glass displays and a wooden counter from the Brownlee Store in Dell, and many other vintage items and displays. Our center display table came from the old Dell School, which was built back in 1935 after a tornado ripped through Dell and destroyed much of the original building.

We have also been blessed by others who have donated a number of goods and pieces of history, including Katherine Bowen of Gosnell,  Doris Bryaens of Gosnell,  Sandra Carpenter of Dell,  Joe Chipman of Manila,  Don Davis of Blytheville,  The Dilldine Farm of Half Moon,  Bobby Hogan of Dell,  and Kenny Jackson of Dell. . .as well as family items from Aunt Mamie Griffin,  Aunt Naoma Gill,  Great Aunt Pearl Magers Sheppard,  Earl and Alice Magers,  Curtis and Irene Duncan,  and our own personal collections.

So with all that said, here's a peek at the inside of our Duncan Farmstead Company Store. . . .You know what you have to do to see the rest. . . .

 

 

 

I'll feature the Post Office in a future post, as well as the Company Office.

but, that's another story for another day. . .

Be looking for it soon. . . . . .

 

LIFE IS GOOD