In the process of clearing out the barn below our museum house, E-15, we found the original, hand-painted Arthurdale Store sign!
The Arthurdale Association, Inc. Cooperative Store opened in 1936 and helped homesteaders supplement their grown fruits and vegetables with additional fresh and canned foods. Important additional items like animal feed, tobacco, and candy were also sold at the store. After nearly a year of making a marginal profit, the Store began operating at a loss. Eventually, it became a private operation in 1940.
The Store sign (as shown in the historic photo) used to read, “Arthurdale Association, Inc. Cooperative Store.” After being leased as a private operation, the sign was repainted to read, “Arthurdale Community Store.” If you look close enough, you can still see the faded letters of the old sign underneath the newer paint.
