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This exhibit tells the story of the first and only general store in the Danish community of Dickson, Alberta.
Dickson is the oldest Danish settlement in western Canada. In 1903, 17 Danish settlers came from Nebraska to Dickson in the hopes of establishing a future for their families. The struggles and hardships were endless, but they worked together to build a strong community. In 1909, as the population grew, it became evident that a local outlet for supplies was needed. Carl and Laura Christiansen, part of the original group of settlers, purchased land and built the Dickson Store. The Christiansen family lived on the second floor, above the store.
The Dickson Store was a true general store, offering all basic necessities as well as a post office. But the store provided much more to its customers and the community: it provided contact to the outside world through its post office, as well as a telephone service and radio. Carl and Laura’s store served as a gathering place, providing hospitality and shelter to new residents and visitors. And because cash was very scarce much of the time, the store provided a barter system and credit accounts for the community’s farmers, even though suppliers did not offer the same to the store.
Carl’s sons Homo and Gordon joined him in the business, and eventually expanded the Dickson Store to include a cold storage plant and slaughterhouse for livestock. They received many awards for the meat processed in this plant.
