The William C. Thomas Store

Across the street from the commissary is the William C. Thomas store. For many years it was the only store in the valley. It was a general merchandise store, selling a little bit of everything. Grandma Lillie B. Carson said that for the first six months of her marriage in 1911 she never left the valley, "if Mr. Thomas didn't hvae what I needed, he would order it and then go up to the 'switch' and pick it up."

Ralph Dubois, a long time teacher in Fairfield wrote that "for the men fold, the William C. Thomas store was also a favorite gathering place. When the weather was pleasant, they would sit outside on a long porch and discuss the news of the day. If the weather was too cold or stormy, they would go inside. It was a common experience to go into the store and see most of the men folk in Fairfield gathered there - some playhing checkers, maybe three or four games going at the same time. Charley Flack and William Thomas were very good checker players. For some reason they never played cards, but I have seen them move the barrels and chairs out of the way and stage boxing matches right in the store."

William E. Boggs purchased and operated the store after Mr. Thomas. Boggs rand the store for many years and for a long time it was the only place in the valley where you could buy a cold drink. After Mr. Boggs left, Mr. Thomas took over again. Mrs. Thomas served as the town midwife.

Location of William C. Thomas Store

Photo courtsey of Shirley C. Hogensen

The Commisary

The Dance Hall