Looking Back: The Grain Valley Mercantile Co.

by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society

​     I found this old advertisement mailer in items belonging to my granddad Rumbo.  Other than knowing it is from the Grain Valley Mercantile Co., I have no idea about when it was mailed as the postmark is not complete (sometime between 1910 and 1919).
     Copies of the 1889 and 1922 city directories do not mention a “Grain Valley Mercantile Co.” So, we don’t know the year, we don’t know the owner, and we don’t know where the mercantile was located! What we do know is there were plenty of great bargains including men’s fleeced lined heavy underwear for only 19-cents.
     The mailer talks about the “largest variety of merchandise it has ever been our pleasure to offer,” however it is interesting to note that only two actual items are mentioned --calico fabric and men’s underwear.  It is also interesting to note that neither of these items are available in Grain Valley today, over 100 years later!
 
     Visit the Grain Valley Historical Society at 506 S. Main on Wednesdays or visit us online at www.grainvalleyhistory.com and Facebook (@grainvalleyhistory).