In the Beginning...

Businesses

Citizens

City Services

Groups & Clubs

Purchases

Dollar conversions...
$1.00 in ____ = $______ today
1854 = $19.45
1861 = $18.01
1863 = $16.21
1864 = $13.15
1865 = $10.35
1867 = $11.05
1868 = $11.43
1869 = $11.80
1870 = $12.15
1871 = $12.83
1872 = $13.51
1873 = $13.80
1874 = $14.10
1875 = $14.40
1876 = $14.74
1877 = $14.97
1878 = $15.19

1872 Prices

Prices from Montgomery Ward's 1872 catalog...
(Montgomery Ward's web site)

Gentleman's toilet set, including toothbrush, nail brush, razor, razor strop, lather brush, comb, hair brush -- $1.00
2 colored undershirts -- $1.25 (white -- $1.00)
2 colored drawers -- $1.25 (white -- $1.00)
3 New York Mills white shirts -- $2.50
6 pairs men's cotton socks -- $1.00
6 pairs Army wool socks -- $1.00
7 yards blue denim -- $1.00
3 yards plain cassimere [cashmere]-- $1.00
1 hoop skirt, 1 bustle, & 1 hair braid -- $1.00
1 ladies gold locket, plain -- $1.50 enameled -- $2.00
1 pair ladies earrings & pin set, imported -- $4.50
1 pair ladies solid gold ear drops -- $3.00
1 plain gold ring (all sizes) -- $2.00
1 silver plated hunting case watch -- $6.00
1 silk parasol -- $1.00
1 heavy plaid shawl -- $3.00


1891 Prices
Cheese 12 Cents
Butter 25 Cents
Eggs 12 Cents per Dozen
Live Chickens $2.50 per Dozen
Dressed Chicken 12 Cents per Pound
Ladies Kid Gloves 75 Cents
Ladies Made-up Skirts 50 Cents


1900
Sugar was 4 cents a pound and eggs were 14 cents per dozen.

1904
Popcorn, hog dogs, ice cream cones, and peanut butter
were introduced at the St. Louis World's fair.

1915
Processed American Cheese was introduced to American stores by J.L. Kraft and Son.

1918 Weekly Food Budget
$2.50 FOR GRAIN FOODS
$2.00 FOR MILK
$2.00 FOR MEAT, EGGS AND FISH
2.00 FOR FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
$1.50 FOR FATS, SUGAR AND MISCELLANEOUS!
From LIPPENCOTT'S HOME MANUALS
"THE BUSINESS OF THE HOUSEHOLD BY C.W. TABER, PUBLISHED IN 1918

1919
Milk was 15 cents a quart, eggs were 62 cents a dozen and sirloin steak was 61 cents a pound.

1920
70% of the population baked their own bread.

1923
Sanka, Welche's Grape Jelly and the Milky Way candy bar were introduced.

1927
Pez Candy was introduced in Australia as a breath mint for smokers. Kool-Aid is introduced to the American Public.

1929
71% of American Households had incomes less than $2,500. The average weekly wage was $28.00!

1932
 This is the year that many Americans were starving and and undernourished. The average wage earner only received about $17 a week

1933
Prohibition has ended. Wow, Ernest and Julio Gallo Wines were introduced this year! 
5 cents for a loaf of bread, 10 cents for a quart of milk, and eggs were 29 cents a dozen. 
Ruth Wakefield created Toll House Cookies

1937
Luxuries were added to a grocery store in Oklahoma City. Shoppers could now put their food in a "Shopping Cart." 
A few fast food products were introduced: Ragu Spaghetti Sauce, Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, and of course SPAM! 
More than 2 million homes in America have refrigerators.

1939
 The U.S. Department of Agriculture introduced the first Food Stamp Program to feed the needy. 
Milk containers are now made out of two types: Glass and Paperboard. 
And, to top it off, the first instant coffee was born. It was Nescafe!

1942
 Anyone remember K-Rations? Wrigly Co, packed the rations for our troops overseas. The rations contained: compressed graham biscuits, canned meat, cigarettes, sugar (and of course, Wrigly Chewing Gum)

1947
 The first microwave oven is introduced, called the Radarange.

1949
 70% of milk sold in the United States is homogenized.