Things worth knowing

Founded in 1903, H.B. Hall was a store on Broadway that sold a variety of homesteading essentials to the early Lloydminster pioneers.

Hall’s half-page advertisements in the Lloydminster Times often focused on the marketing phrase, “Things Worth Knowing.”

In May 1910, Hall was looking to purchase a dozen freshly killed pigs and was willing to pay 12 cents per pound.

This put the dressed weight value of a 200pound pig at $24. He was also willing to trade for goods rather than pay cash.

As spring arrived and summer was on the distant horizon, raincoats and umbrellas were in high demand.

“Absolutely water - proof raincoats” for the ladies ranged in price from $3.25-$3.85. They were advertised as stylish, medium grey in colour and came in all sizes. It’s interesting they advertised these as waterproof as I’m unsure why you would purchase a raincoat that wasn’t. Thankfully, the umbrellas also had “good water-proof covers,” if not, perhaps they would have been more suitable as a 1900s fashion accessory in inclement weather.

Men’s Wear had a variety of money-saving specials for the well-dressed man.

Silk derby ties and cashmere socks, referred to as half hose, in a variety of colours, including black, were on special for .25 cents.

Engraved gold-plated cuff links were half price at .25 cents per pair and the finest of men’s negligee shirts with attached cuffs were a bargain at .85 cents each.

The third shipment of boots and shoes arrived to supply the growing demand for a highquality line of footwear. Every pair came with a guarantee and Hall’s success with this line was phenomenal.

Caught in the supply versus demand relationship is the customer where these economic angles intersect. The customer’s expectations and financial budgeting to spend the least amount of money on a quality product are nothing new. When a merchant’s price increases, so should the quantity and quality of the product. However, with current inflation over the past few years, the trend seems to be the opposite; products are definitely shrinking in size and customers are being charged more for less value.

Economics played an important element in the early days of Lloydminster and the surrounding district. They still do and are absolutely essential for the successful growth of every community. Some concepts such as the supply versus demand relationship never change, but others do.

Soren Kierkegaard, a 19th-century Danish theologian, philosopher and writer once stated, “People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use.”

This is applicable to our society as folks who express their freedom of speech are the very ones who many question as to whether they’re aware of actual facts as they try to influence change.

Loosely translated to be more applicable for the 21st century, Soren’s quote would read like this, “Folks expect the privilege of freely speaking, but in turn strongly feel they are not responsible for what they express.” Some things are worth knowing.