Gambles Hill in Richmond, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

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.

Location. 37° 32.163′ N, 77° 26.719′ W. Marker is in Richmond, Virginia. It is in Gambles Hill. Marker can 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 is at or near this postal address: 470 Tredegar Street, Richmond VA 23219, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Richmond-Petersburg Railroad Bridge (within shouting distance of this marker); Tredegar Iron Works (within shouting distance of this marker); Cupolas from the Virginia State Penitentiary (within shouting distance of this marker); Rutherfoord’s Mill (within shouting distance

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of this marker); a different marker also named The Tredegar Iron Works (within shouting distance of this marker); The Cupola Furnace and Foundry (within shouting distance of this marker); Enterprise and Iron (within shouting distance of this marker); Raceways (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Richmond.

More about this marker. 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

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)

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."

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)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 6, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 779 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 6, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.