The Arcadia General Store is an exhibit containing articles that might have been found in a general store from a hundred years ago. This exhibit includes cash registers, a scale, a record keeping system, and examples of many products sold in such a store.

Animated View: Arcadia General Store
Walk toward the back of the carriage house and look to the right. This is the Arcadia General Store.
(4 images, 2 second delay)

Note the suitcase-like object in the background. This is a McCaskey Safe Register used in the Charles P. Matteson store for people who had accounts with the store. For each person with an account at the store, the pages up front would list the person's name alphabetically and identify the person's number. The pages in the back had numbered mouse-trap-like clamps that held each person's unpaid receipts. A person could make a purchase in the store and charge it to an account, which would add a receipt for that purchase. When someone got paid, they would come to the store and buy back their unpaid receipts.

Animated View: Arcadia General Store from the Inside
Now stand inside the exhibit, look back toward the opening, and slowly turn clockwise. This is what you would see. (7 images, 2 second delay)
 

McCaskey Safe Register
These pages list the people with store accounts and their numbers. Pages in the back with numbered clips held each person's unpaid receipts. These receipts could be locked up when not in use.

This is the end of the tour.