Allison Mercantile Store

George and Artie (Cooper) Wheelock operated the Allison store and post office and built a house across the road south as a hotel or boarding house for the railroad crew.  W. E. Wilson bought the store of general merchandise in 1901 and their daughter, Sarah Ellen, operated the post office until her marriage to John F. MeKeena.   Other owners of the store were Wilbur M. Hughes, Elmer and Emma Goodson, Miller, Calhoun and later Charlie Frazey and P. W. Randolph.  In 1921 Randolph bought out Frazey and operated the store with his sons, Chester and Louis Randolph.  In 1954 the old rock and wood store was torn down when Highway #9 went through Allison and a new brick store was built west of the old one by the Randolphs.   Chester Randolph was the last operator of the store and gas station which closed in 1965.

 This picture taken about 1900.

The store was added onto in 1919 and then again a little later to provide living quarters for the proprietors. This picture taken about 1925.

In 1954 a brick building was built and remained a business until 1965.  It has stood empty since.

This model of the Allison Mercantile Store was made by Clarence Perrin who lived in Allison and spent many days inside the store.   The model was donated by Clarence to the
Decatur County Last Indian Raid Museum where it is on display.

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© Sharleen Wurm  
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