Company Store

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, November 3, 2009

1. Company Store Marker

Inscription.
The Tredegar Company operated a company store, or commissary, in this two story brick building. The company store was opened shortly after Tredegar resumed production at the end of the Civil War (c.1868) and remained in business until just after the end of World War I (c.1918). The entrance to the store was on the upper floor and faced the James River and Kanawha canal. The lower floor was used for storage, and a small rope and pulley elevator carried goods up to the sales area

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1868.

Location. Marker has been permanently removed. It was located near 37° 32.163′ N, 77° 26.719′ W. Marker was in Richmond, Virginia. It was in Gambles Hill. It could be reached from Tredegar Street 0.1 miles west of South 5th Street. This marker is located outside the Civil War Visitor Center at Tredegar Iron Works. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 470 Tredegar Street, Richmond VA 23219, United States of America.

We have been informed that this marker is no longer there and will not be replaced.

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This page is an archival view of what was.

Regionally, this marker was in Central Virginia.

It was also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it was in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least one other marker is within walking distance of this location: A different marker also named The Tredegar Iron Works (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Richmond.

Other markers no longer nearby. The Richmond-Petersburg Railroad Bridge (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Tredegar Iron Works (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Cupolas from the Virginia State Penitentiary (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Rutherfoord’s Mill (was

Company Store Storage Area (lower level) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, November 3, 2009

2. Company Store Storage Area (lower level)

within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); The Cupola Furnace and Foundry (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Enterprise and Iron (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Raceways (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Tredegar Spike Mill (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Toledo 1000-ton Press (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); The Gun Foundry (was about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been permanently removed); President Lincoln Visits Richmond (was about 300 feet away but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named President Lincoln Visits Richmond (was about 300 feet away but has been confirmed missing); Adapting Power (was about 300 feet away but has been permanently removed); Civil War Visitor Center (was about 300 feet away but has been permanently removed); Francis Turbine (was about 300 feet away but has been permanently removed).

More about this marker.

Company Store Entrance and Sales Area (upper level) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, November 3, 2009

3. Company Store Entrance and Sales Area (upper level)

In the center of the panel is an image of a store account book with the caption, "An inventory from 1868 showed that the store carried a wide variety of merchandise. Dry goods included: bolts of cloth, shirts and trousers, buttons, pins, shoes, and three varieties of caps. Food items included: coffee and tea, sugar, bacon, salted fish, spices and beans. The commissary also sold wood and coal for fuel as shown in the pages of this account book (right)."

On the lower right are images of early 20th century brand name products with the caption, "By 1917, the kinds of merchandise offered had changed little. The store continued to sell a wide variety of dry goods like clocks, pencils, suspenders, and umbrellas as well as food items like ham, butter, eggs and apples. One noticeable difference was the addition of many newly popular brand name products. Pre-packaged and widely advertised brand name products included Quaker Oats, Cream of Wheat, Fels Naphtha, Pillsbury Flour, Bon Ami Cleanser as well as several brands of canned fruits and vegetables filled the commissary shelves."

Credits. This page was last revised on January 20, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 6, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,146 times since then and 33 times this year. Last updated on January 19, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 6, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.