Lincoln's Basket Store No. 5 is shown here around 1914 when it was located at 2045 O St., not far from downtown and, interestingly, not far from the other Basket Stores in Lincoln which may have hastened their demise.
Just before Lancaster became Lincoln, the village had one embryonic grocery, shared with the post office, in a double-walled log cabin on the south side of O Street at about Seventh Street. An attempt in late 1868 sought to list all of Lincoln’s first buildings, which included Bohannan Brothers and Squire Blazier’s meat markets, while A. C. Rudolph, D. A. Sherwood and Mr. Cox operated groceries. The first City Directory, published in 1873, listed 16 grocers and, though they would have principally been ones where you gave a list to the clerk to fill, and no one actually “shopped,” a few would possibly have supplied baskets, which may explain the name of a short-lived grocery chain established in Lincoln. Within a short time, shopping changed and, emulating success in larger cities, chain stores would form.
Historian Jim McKee, who still writes with a fountain pen, invites comments or questions. Write to him in care of the Journal Star or at jim@leebooksellers.com.
Lincoln's Basket Store No. 5 is shown here around 1914 when it was located at 2045 O St., not far from downtown and, interestingly, not far from the other Basket Stores in Lincoln which may have hastened their demise.
