Historic Hood River
Raper & Coleman Trade Token
Notes
Morganne’s Monday artifact is a trade token for “Raper & Coleman”. We saw a trade token like this once before, but this one took a little more research to figure out. I see a liquor license hearing scheduled for Raper & Coleman in a June 1906 edition of The Hood River Glacier, so we can assume this was for a restaurant or tavern. In 1904 “Pierson & Coleman” advertised the “Midway Chop House/ Meals on short order at all hours/ Open day and night from 6AM to 2AM.” Perhaps Coleman found a new partner? The next reference I can find is a 1915 bank notice that they had a deposit of $2.12 which had been standing idle for 7 years.
According to this page on the history of trade tokens they were common between 1870 to the 1920 in small stores in rural areas, where they were used to promote trade and extend credit.
L. E.
Thanks for the link about tokens. In our small rural community, several people still have a token from the local pool hall which was a popular business back in the 1920’s.
I didn’t realize it was a common custom during that time.
Jeffrey Bryant
The June 1906 Hood River Glacier application for liquor license indicates the business was on the northeast corner of Oak and First Street. This would correspond with the New Yasui Building location.