MTGMss228.xml Guide to the Three Mile Trading Company (Stevensville, Mont.) Records 1965-1973 Three Mile Trading Company (Stevensville, Mont.) Records Finding aid prepared by Jannie Prawitz Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana--Missoula ©1998

The University of Montana--Missoula Missoula, MT 59812 406-243-2053 http://www.lib.umt.edu/asc library.archives@umontana.edu

Encoded by ArchProteus2003 Finding aid is in English University of Montana, Mansfield Library, Archives and Special Collections

The University of Montana--Missoula Missoula, MT 59812 406-243-2053 http://www.lib.umt.edu/asc library.archives@umontana.edu

Mss 228 Three Mile Trading Company (Stevensville, Mont.) Three Mile Trading Company (Stevensville, Mont.) Records 1965-1973 7.0 linear feet The Three Mile Trading Company was a general mercantile outside of Stevensville, Montana. This collection consists of merchandise invoices from various companies in Montana and outside the state dating from 1967 to 1973. Materials are in English Historical Note

The Three Mile Trading Company was established in 1946 by Jim and Dorothy Edwards near Stevensville, Montana, on Three Mile Road near Lone Rock School. The general mercantile sold a variety of goods for the local public. The store was also a general meeting place for the farmers and ranchers of the community, who would come to the store to drink coffee sitting around a pot-bellied stove until it was warm enough to work outside. The Edwards sold the store to Arthur and Celia Cessna in 1965, who operated it until Dave and Babe Brandon bought it in 1973. As of 1997, the store was still in its original location.

This collection consists of merchandise invoices from various companies in Montana and outside the state dating from 1967 to 1973. The merchandise purchased for sale in the general store included grocery items, feed and grain, stationary, toiletry goods, gasoline and auto parts. It also includes operational expense invoices that include official state business documents, vehicle maintenance, office supplies, building maintenance, and other business supplies. The collection includes inventories of items in the store dating from 1965 to 1967 and 1971. A record of sales and purchases is also included in the collection dating from 1965 to 1966 and 1968 to 1972.

The collection is divided into four series:

Series I: Invoices, Merchandise, 5.0 linear feet, 1967-1973

Series II: Operational Expenses, 1.0 linear feet, 1966-1973

Series III: Inventory, 0.5 linear feet, 1965-1967, 1971

Series IV: Record of Sales and Purchases, 0.5 linear feet, 1965-1966, 1968-1972

Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of Archives and Special Collections, the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, and The University of Montana--Missoula.

Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. and any other applicable statutes. Copyright not transferred to The University of Montana.

[Name of document], Three Mile Trading Company Records, Archives and Special Collections, The University of Montana--Missoula.

The materials in this collection remained at the store until donation to the K. Ross Toole Archives in 1989.

Gift of Arthur D. and Celia E. Cessna, owners of the Three Mile Trading Company, 1989.

In reprocessing the collection, the original folders were divided into more specific order. Many business and merchandise invoices were originally arranged into like categories such as beverages or meats, not by business name. The folders are now divided up by the specific businesses and arranged chronologically. Within each folder the contents are arranged by date from start date to end date. Materials were separated into four series for clarity of arrangement and identification. The contents of the folders were arranged into the series topics. Invoices that fell into another series than originally processed were given their own folders and series. Many items formerly labeled "Financial Records" were relabeled, since only Series IV: Records of Sales and Purchases could be considered financial records. Jim Edwards, Jr., son of the founding owners Jim and Dorothy Edwards, provided the history for the Three Mile Trading Company.

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Business records--Montana--Stevensville General stores--Montana--Stevensville Stevensville (Mont.)--Commerce Montana Labor History Series I Invoices - Merchandise 1967-1973 5 linear feet

Includes merchandise invoices from various companies represented in the general store. The products that were sold included general grocery items, toiletries, stationary, gasoline, auto parts, feed and grain. Many national brands were represented along with various local goods. Local businessmen and businesses were well represented from Hamilton to Missoula.

This series is arranged chronologically from 1967 through 1973.

1/1 Bell McCall Company 1967 1/2 Davis Brothers, Inc. 1967 1/3 Diamond Bar Meats 1967 1/4 Majestic Wholesale, Inc. 1967 1/5 Missoula Motor Parts Company 1967 1/6 Montana Mercantile Company 1967 1/7 Northrup King & Company 1967 1/8 Osburn Dairy 1967 1/9 Pacific Fruit & Produce 1967 1/10 Peavey Company 1967 1/11 Sheehan Bros. & Hober, Inc. 1967 1/12 Western Montana Grocery 1967 1/13 Zip Beverage Company 1967 1/14 Tolman's Meats 1967 1/15 John R. Daily, Inc. 1967 1/16 Dr. S. E. Taylor 1967 1/17 Quality Wholesale Company 1967 1/18 George S. Carrington Company 1967 2/1 Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company 1967 2/2 Nationwide Papers, Inc. 1967 2/3 Western Auto Associate Store 1967 2/4 Bitter Root Farm & Builder's Supply 1967 2/5 Montana Flour Mill Company 1967 2/6 Foremost dairies, Inc. 1967 2/7 Lloyd Moraro 1967 2/8 Preston's Produce 1967 2/9 B. James 1967 2/10 Polls Cream Station 1967 2/11 Lloyd Wayman 1967 2/12 The Chas. H. Lilly Company 1967 2/13 Gordon Snellman 1967 2/14 National Biscuit Company 1967 2/15 Lambert's 1967 2/16 Heater Glove Company 1967 2/17 Bell McCall Company 1968 2/18 Davis Brothers, Inc. 1968 2/19 Diamond Bar Meats 1968 2/20 Montana Mercantile Company 1968 2/21 National Biscuit Company 1968 2/22 Osburn Dairy 1968 2/23 Pacific Fruit & Produce 1968 2/24 Peavey Company 1968 2/25 Ryan Mercantile Company 1968 3/1 Western Montana Grocery 1968 3/2 Zip Beverage Company 1968 3/3 The Coca-Cola Bottling Company 1968 3/4 Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company 1968 3/5 Frank Jaquette 1968 3/6 Haines Independent Wholesale Grocery 1968 3/7 Montana Flour Mills Company 1968 3/8 Nationwide Papers, Inc. 1968 3/9 Nalley's Fine Foods 1968 3/10 Pruyn Feed & Seed 1968 3/11 Missoula Motor Parts Company 1968 3/12 Majestic Wholesale, Inc. 1968 3/13 Ed James 1968 3/14 Hamilton Motor Supply 1968 3/15 Foremost Dairies, Inc. 1968 3/16 Preston Produce 1968 3/17 Moran Ranch 1968 3/18 The Chas. H. Lilly Company 1968 3/19 Daily's Meats 1968 3/20 Tolman's Meat Processing Company 1968 3/21 Groves-Kelco, Inc. 1968 3/22 George S. Carrington Company 1968 3/23 Western Auto Associate Store 1968 3/24 Gambles 1968 3/25 Davies Farm Supply 1969 3/26 Mac's Auto Parts 1969 3/27 National Biscuit Company 1969 3/28 Ed James 1969 3/29 Missoula Motor Parts Company 1969 3/30 Moran Ranch 1969 3/31 Preston Produce 1969 3/32 Foremost Dairies, Inc. 1969 3/33 Montana Flour Mills Company 1969 3/34 Stevensville Feed & Fuel Company 1969 3/35 Western Montana Grocery Company 1969 3/36 Nationwide Papers, Inc. 1969 4/1 Bell McCall Company 1969 4/2 Davis Brothers, Inc. 1969 4/3 Diamond Bar Meats 1969 4/4 Majestic Wholesale, Inc. 1969 4/5 Montana Mercantile Company 1969 4/6 Osburn Dairy 1969 4/7 Pacific Fruit & Produce 1969 4/8 Peavey Company 1969 4/9 Toleman's Meat Processing Company 1969 4/10 Heater Glove Company 1969 4/11 Daily's Meats 1969 4/12 George S. Carrington Company 1969 4/13 Groves-Kelco, Inc. 1969 5/1 Ryan Mercantile Company I 1969 5/2 Ryan Mercantile Company II 1969 5/3 Ryan Mercantile Company III 1969 5/4 Zip Beverage Company 1969 5/5 Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company 1969 5/6 Coca-Cola Bottling Company 1969 5/7 The Chas. H. Lilly Company 1969 5/8 Western Montana Grocery Company 1969 5/9 Standard Brands Incorporated 1970 5/10 Bell McCall Company 1970 5/11 Davis Brothers, Inc. 1970 5/12 Groves-Kelco, Inc. 1970 5/13 George S. Carrington Company 1970 5/14 The Chas. H. Lilly Company 1970 5/15 Diamond Bar Meats 1970 5/16 Service Grocery 1970 5/17 Hamilton Packing Company 1970 5/18 Daily's Meats 1970 5/19 Tolman's Meat Processing Company 1970 6/1 Majestic Wholesale Company 1970 6/2 Montana Mercantile Company 1970 6/3 Osburn Dairy 1970 6/4 Peavey Company 1970 6/5 Ryan Mercantile Company I 1970 6/6 Ryan Mercantile Company II 1970 6/7 Zip Beverage Company 1970 6/8 Foremost Dairies, Inc. 1970 6/9 Nationwide Papers, Inc. 1970 6/10 Pruyn Feed & Seed 1970 6/11 Stevensville Feed and Fuel Company 1970 6/12 Montana Flour Mills Company 1970 6/13 Pacific Fruit & Produce 1970 7/1 Preston Produce 1970 7/2 Ed James 1970 7/3 Mac's Auto Parts 1970 7/4 Clover Club Foods Company 1970 7/5 National Biscuit Company 1970 7/6 Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company 1970 7/7 Standard Brands Incorporated 1970 7/8 Western Montana Grocery Company 1970 7/9 Bell McCall Company 1971 7/10 Davis Brothers Inc. 1971 7/11 Majestic Wholesale 1971 7/12 Montana Mercantile Company 1971 7/13 Osburn Dairy 1971 7/14 Pacific Fruit & Produce 1971 7/15 Peavey Company 1971 7/16 Toleman's Meats 1971 7/17 Ryan Mercantile Company I 1971 8/1 Ryan Mercantile Company II 1971 8/2 Union Oil Company 1971 8/3 Zip Beverage Company 1971 8/4 Daily's Meats 1971 8/5 National Biscuit Company 1971 8/6 Quality Wholesale Company 1971 8/7 Foremost Foods Company 1971 8/8 Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company 1971 8/9 The Chas. H. Lilly Company 1971 8/10 Pruyn Veterinary Hospital 1971 8/11 The Coca-Cola Bottling Company 1971 8/12 Western Montana Grocery Company 1971 8/13 Pacific Hide & Fur Depot 1971 8/14 Standard Brands Incorporated 1971 8/15 Montana Feed & Grain 1971 8/16 Willard Industries, Inc. 1971 8/17 Groves-Kelco, Inc. 1971 8/18 Heater Glove Company 1971 8/19 Clover Club Foods Company 1971 8/20 Ed James 1971 8/21 Macs Auto Parts 1971 8/22 Lorillard 1971 8/23 Montana Flour Mills Company 1971 8/24 John Higgins 1971 8/25 Union Oil Company 1971 8/26 Service Grocery 1971 9/1 Davis Brothers, Inc. 1972 9/2 Triple "E" Meats, Inc. 1972 9/3 Montana Mercantile Company 1972 9/4 Majestic Wholesale 1972 9/5 Osburn Dairy 1972 9/6 Pacific Fruit & Produce 1972 9/7 Peavey Company 1972 9/8 Ryan Mercantile Company I 1972 9/9 Ryan Mercantile Company II 1972 9/10 Union Oil Company 1972 9/11 Zip Beverage Company 1972 10/1 Ed James 1972 10/2 The Coca-Cola Bottling Company 1972 10/3 Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company 1972 10/4 Bell McCall Company 1972 10/5 Western Montana Grocery Company 1972 10/6 Montana Feed & Grain 1972 10/7 National Biscuit Company 1972 10/8 Clover Club Foods Company 1972 10/9 Joe and Evelyn Ploharz 1972 10/10 Lloyd J. Moran 1972 10/11 Stevensville Feed & Fuel 1972 10/12 John Higgins 1972 10/13 William Pearson 1972 10/14 Conklin Products 1972 10/15 Hamilton Motor Supply 1972 10/16 Macs Auto Parts 1972 10/17 Sheehan Bros. & Hober, Inc. 1972 10/18 Daily's Meats 1972 10/19 Willard Industries, Inc. 1972 10/20 Heater Glove Company 1972 10/21 International Procurement Ltd. 1972 10/22 Groves-Kelco, Inc. 1972 10/23 Tolman's Meat Processing Company 1972 10/24 The Chas. H. Lilly Company 1972 10/25 Mr. and Mrs. Ed Lewis 1972 10/26 Ryan Mercantile Company 1972 10/27 Montana Feed and Grain 1973 10/28 Peavey Company 1973 10/29 John Higgins 1973 10/30 Pacific Fruit and Produce Company 1973 10/31 Mr. and Mrs. Ed James 1973 10/32 Osburn Dairy 1973 10/33 Macs Auto Parts 1973 10/34 Tolman's Meats 1973 10/35 Daily's Meat, Inc. 1973 Series II Operational Expenses 1966-1973 1.0 linear foot

Includes invoices and receipts from various expenses incurred for the general store. The series is loosely divided by expenses from general bills, such as electric, garbage and telephone, to office supplies to advertising to automobile maintenance in the first box in the series. The second box is divided into building maintenance and official documents, such as federal, state and Ravalli county documents, and contracts.

This series is arranged by loosely fitted categories as explained above and in those categories the folders are arranged chronologically by the business start date.

11/1 United Rent-Alls 1967 11/2 Robert B. Brown 1967 11/3 Bord Trucking 1968 11/4 Ella Park 1968 11/5 Montgomery Ward 1968, 1972 11/6 Insured Mail Receipts 1968, 1970, 1972 11/7 H & R Block 1971 11/8 Puyear Disposal 1967-1972 11/9 Mountain Bell 1967-1972 11/10 Ravalli County Electric Co-Op, Inc. 1967-1973 11/11 Mid Valley Disposal 1972 11/12 The Typewriter Supply Company 1967 11/13 Anders Office Machines Company 1967, 1969, 1972 11/14 Roberts Book Store 1967-1972 11/15 Boyd Wetzel 1968 11/16 Transparent Industrial Envelope, Inc. 1972 11/17 Delaneys 1972 11/18 Monarch Match Company 1967 11/19 Norm's Truch Line 1967 11/20 Daily Ravalli Republican 1967 11/21 Phillips 66 Calendars 1968-1969 11/22 Calendar Promotions 1968-1969 11/23 Northwest Tribune 1969-1971 11/24 Ramona Lee 1971 11/25 Finest Oil Company 11/26 C & M Motor Company 1966-1969, 1971-1972 11/27 Bill Moeller 1967 11/28 Missoula Truck Sales, Inc. 1967 11/29 John Walker 1967 11/30 Farmer's Exchange 1967 11/31 Bell McCall Company 1967-1968, 1970, 1972 11/32 Missoula Motor Parts Company 1967, 1969 11/33 Bud James 1968 11/34 Cozy Conoco Service 1968 11/35 Bob's Alignment 1968, 1972 11/36 Farmers Exchange 1969-1970 11/37 Gambles 1969, 1971-1972 11/38 Macs Auto Parts 1969-1972 11/39 Hamilton Motor Company 1971 11/40 Missoula Tire Company 1972 12/1 G & R Electric Service 1967 12/2 Jack F. Anderson Construction 1967 12/3 Northern Pacific Transport Company 1967 12/4 Peterson Paint & Glass 1967, 1969-1970 12/5 Weizel Welder 1968 12/6 General Appliance Shop 1968, 1970 12/7 Art & Ray's Lock Shop 1970 12/8 Mincoff 1970 12/9 C. E. Becker T.V. & Radio 1970 12/10 Bitter Root Ready Mix, Inc. 1971 12/11 Bitter Root Farm & Builders Supply 1971-1972 12/12 Browning Hardware 1971-1972 12/13 Lew Hoblitt's Recapping 1971-1972 12/14 Ravalli County Assessment List 1966 12/15 Farmers State Bank 1966-1969 12/16 Montana Department of Agriculture 1966-1971 12/17 Montana, County of Ravalli, Office of County Treasurer 1966-1972 12/18 Montana Department of Agriculture, Division of Weights and Measures 1967-1968, 1970-1971 12/19 Department of Motor Vehicles 1967-1969, 1971-1972 12/20 Montana State Department of Health 1967-1970 12/21 State Board of Equalization 1967, 1971-1972 12/22 Montana State Board of Pharmacy 1967-1969, 1972 12/23 The Electrolex Corp. 1968, 1970-1971 12/24 Grange Insurance Association 1968-1972, 1983 12/25 Kashfinder System 1969 12/26 The Sherry and Hutchinson Company 1971 12/27 Montana Department of Business Regulation 1972 12/28 Union Oil Contracts 1972-1973 Series III Inventory 1965-1967, 1971 0.5 linear feet

This series contains the complete inventory for the store during the above years. The years 1968 through 1970 and 1972 were not included in the collection. The inventory is by product name and manufacturer.

The folders are arranged chronologically, with 1967 divided into two folders I and II.

13/1 1965 13/2 1966 13/3 I 1967 13/4 II 1967 13/5 1971 Series IV Record of Sales and Purchases 1965-1966, 1968-1972 0.5 linear feet

Includes records of sales and purchases arranged by date and business name of incoming and outgoing monies. The categories within the cash receipts from sales include groceries, feed, vegetables and fruits, gasoline, and hardware.

This series in arranged chronologically.

14/1 1965-1966 14/2 1966 14/3 1968 14/4 1969 14/5 1970 14/6 1971 14/7 1972