One of the best parts of combing through old papers is reading the ads. These are just a few of the businesses located in Ridgeway that advertised in the Ridgeway Journal from February to March 1921:
Dale Bros. had Klondike Incubators and Old Colony Brooders available for sale which worked out nicely as Mrs. L. A. Hinkle had chicks available on March 20. The Miner & Frees lumber yard had a new book of “Cornell Interiors” featuring wood paneling and trims for homes. Maple’s Cash Groceries was closing out their stock and offering groceries at discount prices. J. L. Mirgon offered a grain mill for grinding feed for sale and 10% off gang and sulky plows. The Ashby Brothers lumber yard advertised that building prices were coming down about 40% from the previous year and was the time to build or remodel your home. L.O. Bandy had opened up a City Meat Market and had fresh and cured meats for sale. O.P. Bennett offered groceries, clothing and dress goods. Casteel’s Store offered groceries at close out prices also as they had lost the lease on their building, but just as they were getting ready to close, their lease was extended and they were back in business.
Reeves Hardware offered the Successful Incurbator (their spelling, not mine) for sale and were giving away a brand-new set of harnesses on July 4. They also wrote a weekly column for the front page of the paper congratulating buyers on their purchases, such as Mrs. Deva Howard who bought a refrigerator for her mother. You could buy Key overalls at J. H. Shirers; C. C. Leazenby offered his services as an auctioneer; and G. R. Gutridge was a “tonsorial artist”, aka barber. Three doctors, two veterinarians and a dentist also advertised their services in the paper and the newspaper office itself offered printing services and typewriter ribbons.
