Interior of Whitney General Store

This is a photograph of the interior of the second Whitney Store, which occupied a storefront within the Whitney Building (later known as the Junior Mechanic's Building). The building was located on the corner of High and Main Street at the following map coordinates 39.702951, -75.112127. The Whitney Store occupied the first floor, on the far end of the building on High Street (approximate location of the store).

The Whitney Store is also known as the Whitney General Store and the Whitney Department Store. The original Whitney Store burnt down during the October 26, 1895 fire. A new, larger structure was built, and in September 1896, the new Whitney Store was opened. This photograph was captured within this new store, likely between 1896 and 1920. The photograph shows how items were packaged and then stocked on a shelf behind the main counter. Located at the bottom of the tall shelves are bins, likely to store dry goods, such as oats, flour, nuts, fruit and vegetables, and other food types. On the counter sits two scales that were used to weigh the goods purchased. The viewer can also see a device with two rolls of paper, which was likely used for packaging food items. The viewer can also notice pottery, dusting feathers, bar stools, and a decorative cast iron radiator within the interior. Surprisingly, no glass bottles or mason jars are visible in this photo.

Though the Whitney Store welcomed all patrons from the community, its focus was on workers from the Whitney Glassworks who were paid with scrip currency, a type of money that could only be used within the company store or other Whitney businesses. Scrip currency was outlawed in 1938 with the Fair Labor Standards Act. (Wikipedia page) The Whitney Glassworks scrip currency included both paper money and coins, and examples of this currency can be seen at the Heritage Glass Museum. 

The Whitney Store advertised by reminding the local people that the Whitney name had a history dating back to Glassboro's beginning (which wasn't accurate). They also carried many goods at what they called the "lowest prices to be found in this section of the state." The store carried a large variety of goods; including food, furniture, carpets, clothing, shoes, paints, glassware, and tobacco.

Additional Whitney Images:
Whitney Glass Works
Whitney Glass Works Company Store Fire



Help support the project:

The Glassboro Memory Mapping Project is made possible through the kindness of our community volunteers. Please contact us to contribute information or to help with the project.

Images

Map