The Harry C. Teich Memorial Collection

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: MSS 2020.0004

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection comprises mainly invoices of various suppliers with whom Teich's General Store conducted business. These materials are organized by vendor coompany, and repesent an interesting cross-section of various mercantile and food vendors at both the regional and national level who supplied this moderately sized general store. Also included in the collection is a selection of the day books and ledgers of the General Store frm the 1870s through the 1950s as well as the charge account books of several local residents. The majority of materials date to the period when Louis Teich was operating the business, though there are some items that predate and others that postdate his lifetime.

Dates

1860 - 1980

Biographical / Historical

The Harry C. Teich Memorial Collection comprises the extant business papers of Teich's General Store of Leeds, NY. The store was originally opened by Heinrich Teich, a german immigrant who came to Leeds in the 1850s to work in one of the large textile mills in that hamlet. Mr. Teich was a skilled mill worker, and he arrived in the United States with endorsements from previous employers testifying to his expertise in the operations of different departments common to 19th century textile mills. It is unknown why Mr. Teich transitioned to the dry goods business in the 1860s, but family legend establishes that a respiratory condition brought on by years working in the textile industry necessitated his change in profession.

The original Teich store stood on the opposite side of the road and somewhat downstreet from the location of the later store, and was destroyed by fire in the late 1860s. The second location [2020 Postal Address is 1130 Main St, Leeds, NY 12451] was a brick bulding of relatively new construction at the time, and this building is where the business remained until it ceased operations in the late 1970s.

Three successive generations of the Teich family operated the store: Heinrich [Henry] Teich, followed by his son Louis Teich, and lastly by Harry Teich. The business expanded its services throughout its existence, and for a time served as the Post Office for Leeds while Louis Teich served a lengthy tenure as Postmaster. In the 20th century the business expanded its fresh grocery offerings extensively with an addition to the rear of the building, but market pressures following the death of Harry C. Teich precipitated the closing of the business by one of his sons after a century in operation.

An interesting anecdote is that aside from serving as the post office, the fire alarm for Leeds was located on the roof of the general store. The Teichs were responsible for activating it at the request of the Fire Department using a switch located in the cellar entrance.

Extent

8 Cubic Feet (Eight bankers boxes and a selection of shelved ledgers) : Contents are primarily paper, bound ledgers, and some photographic material.

Additional Description

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Materials were donated by Harry Teich, Jr. and had been in his possession for several years prior. Materials were originally stored in the basement of the General Store above a cistern and subsequently moved to a barn for a time following the closure of the business.