Ohl Jefferson County Pennsylvania Reitz General Store Oliver Plows Real Photo Postcard
A.H. Reitz's Store in Ohl, Pennsylvania, represents a quintessential American general store of the early 20th century. In small, rural communities like Ohl—an unincorporated settlement in Perry Township, Clarion County—such establishments served as vital commercial and social centers, supplying residents with essential goods ranging from groceries and dry goods to hardware and household necessities. The wooden architecture and elevated porch were common features for rural commercial buildings of this period.
The prominent sign for "Oliver Chilled Plows" indicates the store's crucial role as an agricultural supplier, a common function for general stores in farming regions. The Oliver Chilled Plow Works, founded by James Oliver, was renowned for its innovative and durable chilled iron plows, which significantly improved farming efficiency during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The store's offering of such specialized farm equipment underscores the agricultural economy of the surrounding area and the dependence of local farmers on these vital community businesses for their tools and supplies.
The prominent sign for "Oliver Chilled Plows" indicates the store's crucial role as an agricultural supplier, a common function for general stores in farming regions. The Oliver Chilled Plow Works, founded by James Oliver, was renowned for its innovative and durable chilled iron plows, which significantly improved farming efficiency during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The store's offering of such specialized farm equipment underscores the agricultural economy of the surrounding area and the dependence of local farmers on these vital community businesses for their tools and supplies.
