[PW] town business listings

[Douglas Anderson]

Some Chambers of Commerce appoint a historian.  If Brundige has one such,
then that person may have access to historical information regarding member
businesses.

High school yearbooks and playbills for community theaters often include
advertisements from area businesses.  So do many locally-produced cookbooks,
program booklets for community events such as graduations, fairs, and
festivals, and even some church bulletins.  Church histories will sometimes
mention the business involvements of their members, especially the prominent
and rich members.  Other nonprofit organizations (hospitals, community
centers, schools, Goodwill, etc.) sometimes have plaques, bricks, or other
displays that list supporting businesses and individuals.

Minutes from past city council or county commissioners' meetings, as well as
building and zoning permit records, will also provide some information about
local businesses.

-- Doug A.

On 11/29/07, Kevin O'Kelly <rkokelly at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> The uncle of a friend of mine plans to write a history of his home town
> (Brundige, Alabama). He wants to create a list of all the businesses that
> operated in this town going back to 1850. I have been asked how he can do
> this.
>
> My response: a comprehensive list is impossible. He might be able to put
> together a partial list if Brundige published annual city directories that
> included listings of local businesses, and if any of those directories have
> been preserved (such town directories were very common in Massachusetts,
> where I work, I have no idea if towns in other parts of the country had
> them).
>
> Nonpopulation census information regarding businesses seems to be limited.
>
> I told my friend his uncle also might have to spend a great deal of time
> scanning old Brundige newspapers for ads to the names of some local
> businesses.
>
> Any other suggestions?
>

-- 
Douglas E. Anderson, Reference Coordinator
Ashtabula County District Library
335 W. 44th St.
Ashtabula, OH 44004 USA
440/997-9341
http://www.acdl.info/