Name/Title
Placerville, CA, "Hangtown Oldest Mercantile Institution Still Going," News Photo, c. 1860Entry/Object ID
P1995.1P.575Description
Placerville, CA, "Hangtown Oldest Mercantile Institution Still Going," News Photo, c. 1860. Photo of news illustration and caption showing Round Tent Store, built in Placerville in 1852. One-story building with round dome, covered porch, located on corner. Illustration of male customers on street and porch. "Gold Dust" sign on dome. b/w
Caption: "The Round Tent Store in Placerville, built in 1852, is just east of the Raffles Hotel, formerly the Carey House. It was founded by Henry Greenberg in 1851, when he pitched his tent on the south side of Main Street. He sold clothing, including all sorts of garments, to the miners. Business was so good and the place so popular, he built his store same shape as former tent. In early days it was customary to display goods on the outside, carrying them inside at the close of day. Often, prices were pinned to suits, especially if they were bargains. Note plug hat in foreground with manzanitia bent can, also hard rock miner in chin whiskers, at right, while the merchant Greenberg, or his partner, Kuhn, in top hat, holds up a pair of Levi's to the booted miner. Hard cash was sometimes scarce, while gold dust was universally accepted, with scales located on back of counter to 'weigh it in'. Greenberg let the country know Gold Dust was acceptable at his place with sign on top of building. In later years, among those who operated the store were M. Simon, who Jay Fox says 'came to Hangtown with peddler's pack'. Later his sons joined the business with him and M. Simons' & Sons. One of them, Al Simon, ran a dry goods and women's clothing across Main Street for 50 years. George McKee is now the proud owner of Round Tent Gents Furnishing Store."
old digital file name: CAPlacervilleSta2.Made/Created
Date made
1860Place
City
PlacervilleState/Province
CaliforniaLexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Secondary Object Term
Print, PhotographicNomenclature Primary Object Term
PhotographNomenclature Sub-Class
Graphic DocumentsNomenclature Class
Documentary ObjectsNomenclature Category
Category 08: Communication ObjectsLOC Thesaurus for Graphic Materials
Pony expressSearch Terms
Pony Express Station, Placerville, California, Gold Rush, Hangtown, California, Round Tent Store, PlacervilleRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Henry Greenberg