Interview with Ms. Mary Wilson the last surviving daughter of James Wilson
one of the founders of the Durbin Merchantile Company, in Durbin. WV. Ms. Wilson
was born in a room over the store on June 1, 1910. The interview was conducted
August 8th, 2002.
MARY: The most unique store east of the Mississippi, that the name for it.
There was a post office when it first started. No, I remember from way back, I
grew up with it. He always took inventory, New Years day, started it was the
Pocahontas Tanning Company really, I mean the people in it. It was Goodsell and
later it was daddy and Pritchard, Forrest Pritchard, at one time and daddy
brought his share. Daddy.
ALEX: What do you remember about growing up there, around the store?
MARY: In fact I was born over the store. That was my birthplace. We lived in
an apartment above the store at one time, my parents. That’s where I was born,
and my sister Margret was born there, and daddy was always giving us a nickel
for candy, remember. Going with a cart one time, uh, I can’t think of his first
name, he liked to drink like some men do. Daddy would give us a nickel for candy
and, I remember roller -skating around the counters. Had everything from dry
goods to nails, from dry goods to nails. There were special cabinets for thread.
I had one at one time. I remember we grew up Daddy brought Christmas toys in a
big basket from the store, from the store on Christmas Eve. I just grew up with
it, really.
ALEX: Sure. Thank you. Now your first name is Mary?
MARY: Anna Mary.
ALEX: Anna Mary.
MARY: There was Eleanor, and Margret, was the oldest, then me, Anna Mary,
Jim, and Nancy, Nancy married Howard Hevener and Eleanor married Chester Shuman,
Shurman.
ALEX: Shuman.
MARY: Shuman, and they are the one taking care of me, of my needs, and I am
the last one.
ALEX: I see, and your birthday?
MARY: June 1, 1910.
ALEX: June 1, 1910. Been around a few years.
MARY: Yeah.
ALEX: I just wanted to get a little bit from you on the tape and use it. You
don’t object to my using it.
MARY: No.