Products
What is a store without things to sell? Many department stores, as well as five and dime stores, prided themselves on being "one-stop shops," or places where almost all of their consumers' needs and wants could be met. Before these stores, one might need to travel to a tailor, a grocer, a cobbler, and a millinery all in the same day.
A trio of mannequins model women's clothing in the Boston Store during the late 1970s. They stand in front of a wall adorned with splat art.
Splat art was pioneered by Jackson Pollock during the 1950s, and was created by quite literally flicking paint onto a canvas.
In this photo, you can see the wide variety of items offered in the Boston Store girl's department, including hats, blouses, and other garments.
An interior view of Percy Brown's shows the produce area, and a canned food isle just behind.
This photo shows the bakery at Percy Brown's. Various pastries and loaves are on the shelves and under the counter.
Do you know anyone in this photo? It shows the frozen meat counter at Percy Brown's with various steaks, sausages, and other meats available for sale.
In the 1900's, many stores used distinctive, colorful and shiny boxes and bags for packaging. On public transportation or while walking around outside the store, these boxes and bags served as free advertisement for various stores. How many do you recognize?
The Luzerne County Historical Society's collection includes many examples of clothing and packaging from local stores. This hat and packaging are from the Lazarus Store.
Do you have a memory of a favorite hat or article of clothing? This photo shows a hat and packaging from Blum Bros., which are now in the Historical Society's collection.
This fur coat has a label from the Fowler, Dick and Walker Boston Store. Fur was considered fashionable in the 1950s, although it has come under fire from animal rights groups in the late 1900s and early 2000s.
This dress has a label from the Molly Abramson Shop and dates to the 1950s. Local customers still shopped at smaller boutiques well into the middle of the 1900s, as the smaller shops could offer more customizable options.