1743 -- GRAND OPENING
              OF DUPUI'S STORE

On Sunday, 15 December 1743, a number of credit-based transactions were logged to the account of Garret Decker.  He had purchased a quire of paper, a paper of ink powder, two papers of pins, a knife and fork set, a yard of broadcloth, six yards of Nonesopritty and a gallon of rum.

For Garret, this was a special day, but not because a pre-Christmas shopping spree had secured the blessing of presents for his wife Susannah.   As a baptized member of the Reformed Dutch Church, Garret was keenly aware that Christmas [Kersdag] was not a celebrated feast day and not a day specific to exchanging gifts.  Christmas was just another day to do the Lord’s work.  So no, this day was special for another very important reason:   today capped off a week’s worth of Grand Opening celebrations at Dupui’s trading post and general store.

Opening Day had seen fourteen customers partaking of Dupui's wares -- all were men.  That's not to say that women didn't have their own accounts... they did.  In fact, the very next day saw purchases made by Nellie Malholen:  callicoe, linen, check linen, lace, callamancoe and "the Remains of a Pair of Stockins."  Clearly, frugality among the women was the watchword of the day.  Yet such was not necessarily the case for the men as the next day saw several extravagant purchases of fashionable beaver hats and silk handkerchiefs.  Life on the frontier could be tough, but it truly wasn't wise to skimp on one's attire. 

It also wasn't wise to engage in commerce on Friday the 13th.  Yes, strong superstitious beliefs were a very real thing during the colonial period.  So right in the very middle of Opening Week celebrations, merchant Dupui opted to have his establishment shut its doors for a day, lest an ill wind blow through and foul his luck. 

The halcyon days of the frontier Indian trading post were now over; a general store operation, a veritable emporium of wide-ranging merchandise (displaying everything from shoes to stoves), would next lead the charge into the future.