The Hogan Commissary
Circa 1915
In the days before everyone had a car, foot traffic was the normal mode of transportation for many
people. Farm labor, living at a distance from town, relied on farm owners to bring goods from
town whenever possible, using their wagon and team. This simple need grew into the commissary,
a store located on the property where sugar, salt, coffee, lard, and other staples were sold. The
temptation to overcharge for these goods was too great for many commissary owners. The damage
was in some cases compounded by paying farm labor in "script." These coupons could only be
spent at the commissary. Although excessive pricing and unfair practices were NOT always
involved, many people wound up deeply indebted, especially in the lean Depression years. "I owe
my soul to the company store" was a sad refrain, not only for rural Southern farm labor, but also
for miners, timber cutters and other middle class labor who worked far from town and had no
transportation.
town whenever possible, using their wagon and team. This simple need grew into the commissary,
a store located on the property where sugar, salt, coffee, lard, and other staples were sold. The
temptation to overcharge for these goods was too great for many commissary owners. The damage
was in some cases compounded by paying farm labor in "script." These coupons could only be
spent at the commissary. Although excessive pricing and unfair practices were NOT always
involved, many people wound up deeply indebted, especially in the lean Depression years. "I owe
my soul to the company store" was a sad refrain, not only for rural Southern farm labor, but also
for miners, timber cutters and other middle class labor who worked far from town and had no
transportation.
