Scott's Grocery
William Clement Scott, Sr. bought Scott's Grocery in 1874 from "Old Man Paddock" and went into business with his son, William Clement, Jr. The store stayed in the family until 1945 when it was sold by John Adams Scott. The store was a long, narrow building with all the groceries behind counters. Patrons would bring their list and their groceries would be selected for them. In the 1930's and 1940's, the store was open on Saturday nights. Patrons would drop off their list, then go to dinner or the movies and return after the evening's entertainment to pick up their groceries.
Originally the store was located in Ashland's first business district, located on Salt Creek bottom at about 11 to 12th and Birch Streets. It was called the "Bottoms." After a flood or two, a new business district developed on higher ground and these merchants were nicknamed the Silver Street Gang. Silver Street became the center of the town's commercial activities.
In 1887, The Ashland Gazette gave the following description of Scott's Grocery in their annual review of local businesses:
Scott & Co.
This is probably the largest exclusive grocery house in Saunders county. The trade of this store extends over Saunders, Cass, Sarpy and Lancaster counties, at least by that portion of those counties which trade in Ashland. The proprietors are energetic, courteous gentlemen and have secured their large trade by hard work, coupled with the fact that they keep the best possible goods to be had in the market.
And the following in 1900:
Scott & Co.
Groceries and Provisions, Queensware, Etc.
The handling of groceries and provisions is one of the most important branches of trade carried on in any city, and one of the most reliable houses in Eastern Nebraska engaged in the business is that conducted by Messrs. W. C. Scott & Co. The stock is an immense and well selected one, embracing every thing in the way of fancy and staple groceries, canned goods, coffees, teas, spices, provisions, fruits and vegetables, queensware, glassware and tinware. Everything is up-to-date and the store is large and elegantly arranged, and is extraordinarily cleanly and orderly; even the small item of meat wrapping paper is an index to the enterprising management. As a matter of justice only, we are constrained to say that this is certainly an ideal and almost perfect store; in fact, we know of no better one anywhere. This may sound like fulsome praise, but it is not; it is simply a statement of plain facts. Mr. W. C. Scott established this business in 1874, beginning in a rather modest way, and has, through absolutely honorable dealings, persistent effort and enterprise, and handling the best and purest goods at popular prices, succeeded in gaining a very large patronage and placing the store in the front rank of commercial industries. An idea may be gained of the large volume of business transacted, when the statement is made that four persons are employed in the store department and a wagon is kept constantly busy in the delivery of goods to customers. Mr. Scott is not only a progressive business man, but is a substantial and prominent citizen as well.
Scott Grocery ads ran every week in the Ashland Gazette. In the early ads, they sometimes wrote at length about their business practices. Some of the slogans used in the ads were "Good Things to Eat Since 1874", "If It Is Something Good to Eat, We Have It", and "The Best for Less Since 1874". In 1881, presumably to encourage business, they gave away $500 in prizes through a drawing. A customer received a ticket for the drawing for each $5 in cash or exchanged goods, however didn't have to buy the whole $5 at one time - "every 50 cent CASH DEAL counts". The "most valuable present" was a $100 gold coin.
John Adams Scott began working in the store with has father after the death of his grandfather, William Clement Scott, Sr. in 1895. He was 16 at the time, and as a result never finished high school. When his father, William Clement Scott, Jr., became ill in 1920, John Scott took over and ran the store until he retired in 1945 at the age of 66. Elizabeth Stanley Scott (John Scott's wife) began working in the store when she was in 9th grade. She worked there on Saturdays and holidays and during the summer to help out her family. In a letter she wrote that she "just loved our old store." She continued to work there after their marriage until they sold the store in 1945. The store continued as a grocery store run by H. W. Schuldt for several years, but is currently a small art gallery.
Pictures of Scott's Grocery in the early 1900's
The following articles appeared in the Ashland Gazette in 1896-1899 discussing changes to the store by William C. Scott, Jr. His father died in 1895 and he took over running the store with his son, John A. Scott.
May 22, 1896
W. C. Scott, Jr., has rented Mrs. Patton's store building east of the Commerical hotel, and will move his grocery stock into it to remain until his new brick store is completed, which will occupy his present location. The old building, which has been in service for many years will be torn down. Work will begin next week.
December 25, 1896
Messrs. Scott & Co., last week placed a new delivery wagon on the street in every way in keeping with their new fine store.
September 17, 1897
One of Edison's talking machines is a late attraction at the grocery house of Scott & Co. The patrons of this house are favored to listen to famous speeches and operas and instrumental music, as large audieneces in the great cities have listened to them.
March 11, 1898
Messrs. Scott & Co. have one of the most novel sets of scales on their grocery counter that we have ever seen. It is a wonderful piece of mechanism, combining a ready reckoner with a scale. It is entirely accurate and does away with the necessity of figuring in the exchange of merchandise for produce. A farmer brings in a given number of dozens of eggs. By placing the weight on a certain figure on the lower bar the amount of the exchange is given, and by placing the weight on a corresponding figure on the upper bar, representing the number of pounds the amount calls for, the computation is made mechanically and quickly, without the possibility of error. It is like a grainman's table adjusted to a set of scales.
September 29, 1899
The flue to the furnace in Scott & Co.'s grocery store has been enlarged this week by being carried up partly outside of the building.
The following articles appeared in the Ashland Gazette in 1927 discussing improvements being made to the store. Amusingly, directly below the second one was an article that a rival businessman, Oscar Hoffman, was also painting and reorganizing his grocery department.
April 21, 1927
John Scott has been making some changes and improvements in the equipment of his store the past week. The fourteen foot counter for cut meats has been moved to the back of the store and beside this has been placed a 2400 lb. cooling unit for meats, eggs, etc. This box extends nearly to the ceiling and is attractive in appearance as well as useful for cooling purposes. This equipment gives Mr. Scott one of the best if not the best, cooling equipment of any grocery store in the county, and the equal of any to be found in the cities.
July 14, 1927
CHANGING AND REDECORATING HIS GROCERY STORE
John Scott, of the Scott's Grocery is making some changes on the interior of his grocery store. New shelving is being put in and counters changed in location to some extent. The whole interior is being repainted with blue trimming and the store will present a very neat appearance when the work is all done.
August 11, 1927
SCOTT & COMPANY BUILDING A NEW GROCERY WAREHOUSE
John Scott began breaking ground this morning on his lot back of the H. H. Pitzer barber shop. The building will be 16x60 ft., one story high, and built of hollow tile. This will give added store room and opportunity to purchase goods in larger quantities.
This article appeared in the Ashland Gazette on August 2, 1934 announcing the 60th anniversary of the store.
SCOTT & CO. OBSERVE 60TH ANNIVERSARY THIS WEEK
In this issue, Scott & Co. are carrying an extra large ad in which they announce the 60th anniversary in business in Ashland! They are also sending out bills. Read them carefully. They are advertising some wonderful bargains in delicious food.
Scott & Co. have served this community well during the past sixty years. The store was first started by John Scott's grandfather and father, W. C. Scott Sr., and W. C. Scott Jr. They made every effort to please their customers, and the store flourished. After it was taken over by John Scott, he continued to give the same excellent service, and has kept the stock up equal with that of any city grocery. His customers have always been pleased, and there are several in Ashland and vicinity who have traded with the store for fifty years or more, and are still regular customers.
It is unusual for a flourishing business like the Scott's Grocery to be kept in one family for sixty consecutive years, and the present owner is to be congratulated on the type of service and efficiency with which he is carrying on the work begun by his grandfather and father.
Don't forget to drop in and extend congratulations.
An article in the October 9, 1919 edition of the Ashland Gazette reflected on the prices of groceries in 1880.
HIGH PRICES BACK IN 1880
W. C. Scott Shows Us Records of Sales Made Many Years Ago, When H. C. L. Was Unknown
The high cost of living was a thing unheard of back in the 80's. At least we would judge so from some of the files of the Scott grocery store, which Mr. Scott kindly showed us this week. This store was founded in 1874, the first location being over across the creek on what is still known as Main street, where it was thought the main part of town would be built. In the daily charge account of the store for 1880, two items were brought to our special attention by Mr. Scott. The first was to Van Curen, 7 lb butter @ 9 ½c—68 c; the second to Dellman, 5 dozen eggs @ 6c—30c. Mr. Scott left the copy for this week's advertisement, gave the boss two cigars, as usual, presented the local editor with the usual gift of candy, and after showing us the above mentioned figures, he left only to return in a few moments with another item. This one was: August 24, 1880, to Emanuel Smith, 8 chickens, $1.00. This last one was too much for the Gazette force, and we are still reeling under the shock. If the Palm Theatre program should appear in the church notes section, or if the advertisements should get in upside down, you will know what unbalanced us. Eight chickens for one dollar—it is like one of those old fairy tales that have in closing, "now mark you, this is a true story," but even then, it is better than the myth of the butcher who used to give liver away for nothing.
This article published on August 27, 1936 of the Ashland Gazette reported on a talk given by John A. Scott about how the grocery business had changed.
Mr. Scott Describes Grocery Business
The program at the regular meeting of the Rotary Club Monday evening was in charge of John Scott, who had been assigned "My Vocation" as his topic. Mr. Scott's talk proved to be highly interesting. He told how the grocery business had changed since his father first went into the business in 1874. He described an old-time store, with its barrels of food, long counters, and its circulating stove, around which the customers gathered to exchange a word or two of gossip and news.
"Things are differenct nowadays," said Mr. Scott. Instead of the meager line which filled the needs of the old customers, the modern grocer now has to carry 304 lines of goods, 40% of which are perishable. Instead of what might be called a system of barter in the old days, with the grocer getting much of the garden products from local residents, the modern grocer ships in garden stuffs and fresh fruit and vegetables from all over the country, thus supplying his customers with fresh things in and out of season.
Mr. Scott's talk was highly interesting, and the members commented favorably on it after the meeting.
