Category Archives: Wheeling Stores
CELLULOID “ADAMANTINE” by John Bowman 2023
CELLULOID (a brand-name) was the first plastic material. It was developed in the early 1860s from a mixture of nitro-cellulose (cellulose from plant fiber) and camphor. Celluloid, a malleable substance in its early development was made to resemble Ivory and Marble finishes. Celluloid replaced many items that used expensive real Ivory and was then commonly […]
Read MoreBILL OF LADING – FREIGHT ON BOARD Regarding FLATBOATS, KEELBOATS, and STEAMBOATS by John Bowman
What is a steamboat “Bill of Lading”?[i] A steamboat Bill of Lading was a two-piece receipt torn from a bound book, usually kept at the Wharfboat office that listed the goods received by a steamboat agent one copy of which was given to the carrier of the goods and one copy was given to the […]
Read MoreSTEAMBOAT UNIFORMS and CAPS CATALOG No. 701
STEAMBOAT UNIFORMS and CAPS 1921 Catalog No. 701 from the John Bowman collection THE CINCINNATI REGALIA CO. Textile Building Fourth and Elm Streets CINCINNATI, OHIO A 12 page Catalog of Popular Uniform Designs for Discerning Rivermen This CINCINNATI REGALIA CO. catalog states they offer: INDIVIDUAL SERVICE “We will furnish special designs to meet individual requirements, […]
Read MoreWHEELING RETAIL GROCERS 1820 – 1920 by John Bowman
Today, Wheeling has Kroger and a Riesbeck’s Food Market, Sav-A-Lot, and a few convenient Convenience Stores where one buys groceries. Maybe today, that is enough stores to fill the need, but it wasn’t always so. A timely trend may be that you make your order from one of these stores and it will be delivered […]
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