E.J. Crane, Watchmaker and Jewelry Store, in Richmond, Virginia, 1899

Courtesy of Library of Congress, "E.J. Crane, watchmaker and jewelry store with man working in window and man standing in doorway, Richmond, Virginia," 1899

Description

#5 Occupation: Merchant (Store Owner)
Stores in 1900 were smaller than most of the stores we see today. In small towns, stores carried many kinds of products: clothes, food, wagon/machine/auto parts, dishes, tools, hats and many other items. In cities, stores specialized into a certain kind of product. The shop in this photograph features E.J. Crane, a watchmaker and jewelry store, in Richmond, Virginia.

Source-Dependent Questions

What is the working environment for this store owner?
What skills does this store owner need in order to be successful at his job?
Why would living in a small town or living in a city impact the kinds of items that a store would have for sale?

Citation Information

"E.J. Crane, watchmaker and jewelry store with man working in window and man standing in doorway, Richmond, Virginia," 1899. Courtesy of Library of Congress