In the late 18th century, Israel Crane opened a general store in Cranetown, on the Old Road to Bloomfield, now Glen Ridge Avenue. By 1805, Crane’s store became such an important trading post that Israel Crane organized a company to construct the Newark-Pompton Turnpike, which connected the city to the farming regions. Townspeople could buy “dry goods,” such as light weight articles that were not weighed or poured, “notions,” such as pins, needles, and threat, “hardware,” such as iron tools, nails, and crockery, “produce” such as salt pork, smoked hams, and dried fruits, and “West Indies goods and groceries,” such as sugar, molasses and rum. Crane’s store also carried medicine.
The Old General Store at the Nathaniel Crane House is an authentic 19th century store, much like Crane’s store. The store merchandise, equipment, sales counters, gates, and post office pigeon holes were donated to the Montclair Historical Society in 1967 by Mrs. Roy Tomlinson.