Butcher - Food pyramids 1905 - Side by Side

by Mike Savad

Title

Butcher - Food pyramids 1905 - Side by Side

Artist

Mike Savad

Medium

Photograph - Hand Colored Photo

Description

Hand colored photo from 1905
Original title: Butcher shop on corner of County and Allen Streets
Photographer: Earle D. Wilson
Location: County and Allen Streets, New Bedford, MA

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, shops like the one pictured were the lifeblood of working-class neighborhoods. Though primarily a butcher, this kind of establishment also served as a general provisions store, offering staples like canned goods, dry beans, flour, soap, and even imported delicacies. A customer might come in for a cut of meat and leave with a full basket of essentials for the week.

These were the days before supermarkets, when shopping was local, frequent, and deeply personal. Butchers often knew their customers by name and tailored each cut to suit individual tastes, budgets, or traditions. To stay competitive, many expanded their offerings by stocking hanging sausages, stacked biscuits, canned tomatoes, olive oil, and even toiletries. The more a shop could offer in one place, the more valuable it became to the neighborhood it served.

Elaborate displays, such as arches and pyramids of canned goods, were more than decoration. They were early merchandising techniques meant to showcase abundance, symmetry, and a sense of modernity. A well-stocked store projected quality, success, and trust. And in a time before shelving systems, hand-stacked arrangements also made it easier to move bulk items efficiently.

This style of shop began to fade in the 1930s as chain groceries and self-service supermarkets became more common. The introduction of shelving units, price tags, and shopping carts changed both the layout of stores and the way customers shopped. By the post World War II years, most urban neighborhoods had replaced these intimate butcher-grocers with larger supermarkets lit by fluorescent bulbs and arranged in uniform aisles.

For a time, though, these shops were something special. They were practical and personal, filled with the smells of sawdust, smoked meat, and fresh deliveries. More than just places to shop, they were essential parts of the community.

Color notes
The original was quite faded and a bit noisy. I assume the guy second in from the left is the owner as they drew parts of his face back in, so I had to fix that. I love how they have special shelves just to display bottles. Too bad the art of can stacking isn't done any more, still I'm not sure how they got them down. There is a ladder but there is also a long cane in the background.

The location shows there is a Victorian house on that corner, but I don't know if its related to this place. Also its hard to tell if they did all their cutting in the middle of the room like this or if they are just showing off their meats. I'm still not sure what that gauntlet is that guy's wearing on the far left.

Uploaded

July 3rd, 2025

Colors

Embed

Share

Tags