Lou and his brother Simon (Sim) operated the store for 40 years Their operation was two pronged. They sold groceries and dry goods at the store in Borculo, but Sim used the truck with the box on it to sell groceries to the farmers and also to pick up eggs from the farmers.
One of the uses for the truck was going to Grand Rapids each week on Thursday to purchase supplies for the store and peddle wagon for the week. Dad was a trusting soul. He always thought the best of everyone. A rather disturbing incident happened on day on his way to Grand Rapids. He picked up a hitc hike along the road and when they reached the point where the hitch hiker wanted to get out, Dad noticed a gun lying on the floor of the truck. He picked it up and casually the hiker if it belonged to him. It did and he took it ond off he went. Dad always carried a lot of money with him and the end result could have been far different than it was. Even after telling about the incident, he was not disturbed. In fact, I’m sure would do the same thing over again.
Another use for the truck was hauling produce from our garden to the Wholesale Fruit and Vegetable Market in Grand Rapids every Friday. Our produce was usually strawberries, beans, cucumbers, or whatever was available at the time. Dad had to leave early in the morning, but he always enjoyed those trips This gave him a chance to meet a lot of other people. He enjoyed striking up a conversation with anyone willing to listen or talk. I remember going with him for groceries on occasion. After making all necessary purchases, we stopped at a little sandwich shop. Dad always ordered something which could be eaten quickly, but I usually ordered a hamburg which too longer to prepare. He didn’t always appreciate this. He was always in a hurry to get back home.
Our family lived in the house attached to the store and Uncle Sim’s family lived in the house next door. There were six children in our family, three girls and three boys. In Uncle Sim’s family there were also six children, four boys and two girls. We were one big family. As the families grew, Dad & Uncle Sim got their heads together and decided they had to provide something for us kids to do to keep busy. There was some land behind the houses and as far back as I can remember we worked in field planting, weeding and harvesting beans, tomatoes, pickles, strawberries, and sugar beets which were grown in another field. One good thing resulted and that was I learned how to drive by picking up produce in the field.
Both of our families were involved in clerking in the store. Our family was more directly involved because our house was attached to the store. When it came time to eat, Uncle Sim’s family went home to eat. If a customer came in it was our responsibility to serve the customer. This resulted in having many meals interrupted and it became necessary for us to eat fast. To this day I remain a fast eater.
Clerking in our store in those days was far different from anything today. The customer came in with a list and read each item separately. As each item was read, the clerk went to the shelves, got the item and placed it on the counter. The procedure was continued for each item on the list until all the items were taken care of. The items were then listed on a sales slip by item and price per item. If the list was short, the items were added in our head. If the list was long, we did have an adding machine to assist. One copy of the sales slip was given to the customer and one was kept for the store records. Generally, if the men came in with a list, they would hand the list over to the clerk and the order was filled while the men stood off to the side and talked whoever was available to talk with.
Another big difference between our store and the stores of today was the limited varieties of any one item. Today, whole aisles are stocked with cereals alone. In our store, cereals were limited to Corn Flakes, Rice Krispies, Shredded Wheat, and Rolled Oats. Then too, these cereals came in one sized container. There may have been one or two more, but certainly the variety was limited. Another example was the limited variety of soap flakes. There were no detergents. That is the way it was with all things, soups included. There was a limited variety to choose from.
In addition to the other supplies that Dad picked up weekly in Grand Rapids was a possibly four foot long stalk of bananas which was hung from the ceiling of the store. We would cut off whatever amount the customer wanted. Another special item was bulk cheese which came in a round wooden container about fifteen inches or so in diameter. The containers were maybe four or five inches deep. Pieces of cheese were cut according to the amount the customer requested, usually a pound. This was delivered weekly by wholesale suppliers along with franks, bologna, metwurst, dried beef, and selected cold cuts.
Bread was delivered every day. Many of the items came in bulk, mostly in burlap bags. Some of these bulk items were: white and brown sugar, rice, rolled oats, dried peas, beans barley, cookies, and peppermints. Every Saturday morning we had to weigh out one pound, two, and sometimes five pound bags of assorted items. We weighed out enough to last for the week. The bags used for the bulk items were plain brown paper bags of various sizes. There was no such thing as plastic bags or anything plastic. Flour came in twenty-five pound cloth bags. At first the flour came in white cotton bags. After the bags were emptied, ladies often made dish towels, aprons, or pillow cases out of the bags. Later on they came out in printed material. Ladies would try to collect bags of similar design or prints and use them for making dresses or aprons. These bags came in beautiful prints, and it was quite common to see children dressed in what was formerly flour bags. Remember, these were times of depression and everything useful was used for a purpose.
Cookies came in bulk in display boxes. There were two kinds of cookies, plain and fancy. The plain ones came in boxes approximately 22” by 14”. The fancy ones came in smaller boxes about 11: by 14”. These boxes of cookies were opened, placed on the counter with a metallic frame fitted around the box with a hinged glass cover. There were possibly twelve to fifteen varieties of cookies. Some of the plain were sugar cookies, molasses, Santa Claus, and others. Some of the fancy were chocolate covered marshmallow, coconut covered marshmallow, chocolate graham cookies, Dutch twin wafers, sandwich and other I can’t think of. People could make their selection from the boxes and when they had decided, we would weigh up the desired amount. Everyday after Uncle Sim came home with the peddle truck, he would hand in a list of items he would need for the following day. He would make his selection of cookies and these were weighed out and included in the list. The items needed were placed in boxes and carried out to the shed where the peddle truck was loaded,. Uncle Sim would then place the items on the shelves in the truck.
A number of salesmen came around regularly taking orders for dry goods such as: towels, sheets, wash clothes,, threads, and yard goods. Yards and yards of flannel were sold for diapers. Salesmen also came around for items of clothing, overalls, underwear for men, women, and children, shoes, rubbers and boots, aprons and many other items. Our store was classified as a general merchandise store. We carried everything from soup to nuts, tacks, hinges, etc. We also stocked kerosene, paint, tobacco items, over the counter medicines for man or beast, sewing supplies, shoes and boots, overalls plus everything else imaginable. The kerosene was stored in a separate container with a hand pump mounted on the shed platform. The kerosene was pumped into containers which the customers provided.
There were no regular store hours. Whenever Dad was dressed he would unlock the door to the store. This was usually around 7 a.m. Closing time was very indefinite. It depended entirely on how late customers continued to stop in. Sometimes we would be about ready to close when someone would drive up. Generally the store would close around 9:30. Saturday night was a special night. Business men from the corner would come to the store after they closed their own places of business and would just sit around and talk or engage in a game of checkers. The store remained open even later on Saturday night.
In those days many of the purchases were exchanged for eggs. Also, many of the customers charged their purchases. A sales book was kept for each charge customer. Some of these were paid at the end of each week, some at the end of the month, and some never paid. These sales books were filed alphabetically in a slotted rack and readily available whenever the customer returned. Shortly before Dad and Uncle Sim retired, Dad considered turning over some of these delinquent accounts to Len for collection. Some of these accounts were years and years old. Dad and Uncle Sim never made much of an effort to collect from people. Dad started to separate some of the accounts to turn over to Len for collection, but changed his mind and decided to do nothing about it. Some of those accounts were of sizable amounts and some people were well known in the area. It is doubtful that they ever realized anything from those past due accounts.
The store was long and narrow, beginning from the front on the north side was the desk and records. On shelves above that desk were the tobacco items. Moving toward the rear of the store, the next items on the north wall were the medicines for man and beast. Next came shelves filled with a variety of grocery items. Somewhat beyond the half way point, stood the refrigerator and then came the entrance leading to our home. Beyond the entrance to our home were shelves containing foot wear of all kinds. Shoes came in one width only. They either fit or didn’t fit. I wonder how my shoes fit in these days because I wear narrow or slim width now and those were not available.
A word about the general layout of the store. The front entrance opened up to a wide aisle extending from front to rear. The section just explained represented the north wall of the store. There was then a narrow aisle where the clerks moved back and forth to serve the customers. Then came another counter. Beginning from the front and moving toward the rear, on the counter was a display case containing boxes of cigars. There was a variety of brands, some as cheap as 2 for a nickel. Nexst to that was a taller and narrower glass case which contained a variety of cigarettes. The cheapest were 10 cents a pack and the more expensive, like Camels and Lucky Strikes 15 cents a pack. Next came a display case containing nickel candy bars. Then came the cash register and boxes of penny candy. There was plenty of that . Every Saturday the catechism children came to spend their pennies for candy. They stood around the candy wide-eyed making sure they made the right decision. For some that took a long time. Next came an open counter space where customer orders were placed. At the end of the counter was the scale and hanging from the ceiling at this point was the stalk of bananas. For a short distance there was no counter, but the floor area contained a large floor register which heated the entire store. This space also served as an aisle between the center section, the north section and the entrance to the house. Then the counter continued to the back of the store on which was located the cheese containers, bread cases, bags of sugar and boxes of shoes and possible other items I can not recall at the present time. Dad usually kept a small counter space clear for his work on the township books. There was considerable inventory of chimneys of various sizes located somewhere in this area. On the floor, in the northeast corner was the store safe. This was generally locked. On week-ends the cash was placed in it for safe keeping. During the week Dad took the total cash receipts and placed them under his pillow. Anyone wanting the money would have to awaken him first. Fortunately nothing ever happened, but it wasn’t the wisest thing to do.
Starting again at the front of the store, on the south side of the wide aisle were two large display cases. These contained a variety of items: combs, brushes, towels, washcloths, baby bottles, baby items, bibs, gifts for bridal showers, alarm clocks, barrettes, etc etc. On top of these display cases were: perfume, shampoo, stationary, valentines around Valentine’s Day, Brillantine and much more. At the end of the dispay cases was a narrow aisle which led to the south side of the store. Beyond the aisle the open counter continued. An area was reserved for measuring and cutting material such as flannel for diapers, printed cotton material for aprons and dresses, etc. This counter space was also used for playing checkers on Saturday nights. Then came a small counter top display case containing possibly lace, buttons, and things for sewing. In fron of this counter was a bench where people came to talk, smoke, and relax and solve all the problems of the world. Beyond the counter display case the counter became a little wider and on the aisle side contained the boxes of cookies. On the other side of the counter were stacks of overalls.
Again, starting from the front, the shelves against the south wall contained a cabinet containing all kinds of colored thread. Also there were boxes and boxes of white thread in various numbers and also black thread. There were also boxes of various colors of embroidery floss, yarn, knitting needles, crochet hooks, safety pins, common pins, and anything and everything needed for sewing.
Then came the bolts of material: flannel for diapers, cotton prints, for aprons and dresses there was dotted swiss organdy, and materials for trimmings and much more. Then came the shirts for men and boys, pants and overalls for men and boys, socks, work gloves, and more.
On the far east side, on the floor were kegs and kegs of nails of various sizes. On the counter and on the shelves above the counter were the hardware items, screws, hinges, screw drivers, and paints. In the center of the far east wall was a door which led to the shed which also contained a variety of items mostly surplus inventory.
On the ground level of the shed was an area large enough to accommodate the peddle wagon and later on the panel truck. About four or five steps up was a loading dock which extended out from the west, north and east sides about six feet. This provided space for walking and storing of surplus merchandise. On the south side were the sliding shed doors. The eggs which were turned in by the farmers were stored here in crates until the regular runs were made to Grand Rapids where they were sold to a distributor. Also located in the shed was a large bulk vinegar barrel. Customers came with their own containers when they wanted vinegar and had them filled. As mentioned before, this is the area which housed the kerosene pump. The amazing thing about the whole operation is the ease by which the place could be entered and robbed of a variety of items. The shed’s sliding doors were poorly fitted and could have been quickly pried open. Entrance to the store was simple from there and access to he house was not obstructed. If conditions existed then as they do today undoubtedly there would have been breaking and entry.
On the west wall of the shed was a door which led to a stairway to the upstairs area above the store. This was one big room with squeaky floors, spider webs, windows on the west and east side. This area served as storage for anything and everything which no longer had a use. There were a variety of items. One thing remembered was a cabinet type display case with many small drawers in which spools of thread were placed. This would have real value today. Another item which I wish I had was a large cabinet with shelves. It stood about six feet tall with doors on the front. Straw hats were stored in it.
I remember enjoying going up there and looking around at what was there. Some of the things were old and worth keeping. On holiday when we were by Dad, I went up there as I had done many times before. I always had my eye on a picture frame which had a picture in it of Dad’s family, his father, mother, two brothers and a sister. I assume that this picture was taken before any of the family were married. Dad still had both arms and Grandpa Vollink is also on the picture. I took it down and asked Dad if I could have the frame. He said I could if Grace didn’t want it. I asked Grace and to my surprise she said she didn’t care for any of that junk. So I quickly put it in the trunk of our car before she had a chance to change her mind. We bought another picture for the frame and have it hanging in our recreation room in the basement. At the same time I took a couple straw hats from the cabinet. One of those was a ladies’ hat which hangs on our kitchen door with a decorative ribbon which I put on.
One of the entrances to the basement below the store was from the shed. The slope from ground level to basement level was a peculiar arrangement. It was a slab of cement with grooves in it, not steps. You simply cautiously stepped down until you reached the basement. This was not a large area and this is where surplus pop supplies were kept. Entrance to this basement could also be reached from the basement below the house. There was also a stairway which led to the store basement from the hallway between the store and our house.
A word should be said about the partnership arrangement between Dad and Uncle Sim. At best, a partnership is a hazardous business arrangement, but Dad and Uncle Sim proved otherwise. I don’t remember that there was ever any friction between the two of them. They each had areas of responsibilities. Uncle Sim was in charge of the peddle truck and worked in the store when he was not on his route. Dad did all the book work did most of the ordering of goods and merchandise, went to Grand Rapids to the wholesale houses to pick up groceries each week, and also helped customers in the store. Their relationship was so close that when Dad died, Uncle Sim was in good health, but six months later he also died. It is generally agreed that he died of a broken heart. The minister also expressed this opinion at his funeral. They were in business together at least 40 years.