The Missoula Mercantile: The Store That Ran an Empire - Paperback

by Minie Smith (Author)

From its log cabin beginnings at a dusty crossroads in Montana Territory, the Missoula Mercantile grew to become the largest department store between Minneapolis and Seattle. Under the guidance of A.B. Hammond and C.H. McLeod and their policy of community involvement and customer satisfaction, the Merc became a household word in Montana, synonymous with square dealing. Join historian Minie Smith as she traces the story of a western institution, remembering everything from the Missoula Mercantile's hardware department, with its creaky wooden floors and drawers of nuts and bolts, to its ladies' apparel department, which offered a taste of the big city with silks, satins and velveteens. From horseshoes to hosieries, the Merc had what customers needed and knew what they wanted.

Author Biography

Missoula resident Minie Smith researched and wrote exhibit scripts for the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula, including one for the award-winning exhibit When the Mountains Roared: A Look Back at the 1910 Fire.� She also helped to start a local history center in the area.