Greenville in Wayne County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Turner-Durham Store
Photographed By Craig Swain, September 28, 2022
1. Turner-Durham Store Marker
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1935.
Location. 37° 6.089′ N, 90° 27.19′ W. Marker is in Greenville, Missouri, in Wayne County. Marker can be reached from U.S. 67, on the right when traveling south. Located on the "Memory Lane" trail through Old Greenville, inside the Greenville Recreation Area, Wappapello Lake. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Greenville MO 63944, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Greenville Sun / Post Office (a few steps from this marker); Old Greenville Recreation Area (within shouting distance of this marker); Dr. Wagner Residence (within shouting distance of this marker); Methodist Parsonage (within shouting distance of this marker); Stile Block (within shouting distance of this marker); Strickland Store (within shouting distance of this marker); Marsh's Store
this page online
Photographed By Craig Swain, September 28, 2022
2. Turner-Durham Store Location
The marker stands along the sidewalk of the former Timmons Street in Gold Greenville.
Photographed By Craig Swain
3. Turner & Durham Cash Store Notice
This notice, running in The Greenville Sun on January 28, 1937, offers an example of the transition of both American economic practices and societal constructs. Up until the first quarter of the 20th century, bartering - in the form of trading produce, raw materials, or labor for desired goods - was commonplace in America. This was in lieu of direct cash transitions. However, as markets nationalized, particularly as result of World War I and the Great Depression, bartering fell into disfavor. Turner & Durham Market, like many of the period, switched to a strict "cash only" business. In later years, the store was known as "Turner's Cash Store" to reflect the change of practice.
Photographed By Craig Swain
4. Optometric Specialist
Another advertisement featuring the Turner & Durham Store, this from The Greenville Sun, October 14, 1937, offers evidence of another once common practice. In a time when optometry was considered a "specialty" medical practice, access to such services was limited. Often Optometrists scheduled tours through rural areas, servicing widespread communities. In this instance, Doctor William H. Johnson scheduled hours at Turner & Durham Store on October 15 of that year. He then visited Piedmont to serve that community. Note the warning against men who "know nothing about the eyes..." and "Extra low prices this trip"!
Photographed By Craig Swain
5. Christmas Wishes, 1936
Turner & Durham advertisements also reflected the larger events of history. In this case, an ad from the middle of the Great Depression cites "increasing obligations to the citizens of this community for the business sent our way during the past year." Perhaps a polite way of saying "times have been tough on us all."
Photographed By Craig Swain
6. Turner's Cash Store, August 1945 Victory Notice
Another major historical event playing in the store's advertisements is end of World War II. Turner's Cash Store, now located in new Greenville, posted this ad in the August 23, 1945 edition of The Greenville Sun. This ad comes from an entire page of similar notices from area merchants. In contrast to the Great Depression notice, the Victory notice indicates some change of perspective. Where as before the sentiment was to the local community, nine years later the perspective acknowledged global connectiveness.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 14, 2022. It was originally submitted on November 6, 2022, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 72 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on November 6, 2022, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.
