Local History - A Look into Small- Town America: Life, Environment, & Community in Cobleskill, 1879

COBLESKILL — The year and date were December 4th, 1879. Cobleskill stood as a developing village within  their community at the time. It stood as an example of small-town American life in the late  nineteenth century, it also stood for local business activity and agriculture as well. As  winter was already approaching and the Christmas season was as well, Cobleskill still  found itself active within trading, religion, & public affairs. For example, past publications such as The Cobleskill Index reflected the everyday concerns of village life and the holiday businesses around this same year and date of events. Merchants who lived throughout the  village would often advertise large sections of winter clothing, such as Overcoats, dress  goods, and Ulsters. Most of them would emphasize the quality, prices, and how beneficial  would be.  

Store owners would also emphasize cash sales, fair dealing, and competitive prices  during this time of the year. Agricultural markets became to fluctuate quickly as prices for  butter, cheese, grain, and other farm products, these markets were heavily advertised throughout The Cobleskill Index which also helped them with their sales with most of the customers reading it. Advertisements filled a generous part of the Cobskill Index,  highlighting the importance of their products and how important it was to the village as  well. Local merchants also reminded the villagers as well about how selling and advertising  were a part of constant labor, due to them working even when the stores were closed or not.  

Professional services were also highlighted throughout the article as well, such as L.T  Fox surgeon-dentist services or Willam Shafer jeweler services as well. These sections of the  professional services show how important businesses were within the late nineteenth  century, it also shows how much they meant to the villagers as they were the reason for their  success. 

Religion was also a main factor in the village as there were many advertisements  for small and large bibles within the article, this also revealed that religious texts were a  common household item and popular holiday purchases. Holidays went hand in hand with  religion because Christmas shopping was paired with the bible sales, which also shows that  religion and holidays were a normal integrated part of everyday life. The article also shows  how festive the villagers were as they would attend gatherings such as meetings and even  church events as well, which shows you how interconnected the environment had been  during this period. 

Overall, the article from The Cobleskill Index highlights how the economy and environment impacted the villagers and what they gained from it but it also  shows how the villagers lived, how they supported each other, and it also showed how many  businesses operated and how they were able to be successful during this time period and how beneficial they were to the villagers and it also shows the supportive the villagers were  to their community and how well balanced the village was as well in 1879