Ulster American Folkpark : Collections : America : Buildings : American Street : Museums and Galleries of Northern Ireland

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American Street

After spending up to twelve weeks crammed in the 'tween decks' area on board ships such as the Brig Union, emigrants would have finally found themselves at one of America's busy ports, probably in the type of street which has been created at the Park. Sights such as a fisherman carrying a basket of oysters, then the food of the American poor, would have been common. Cheap dockside lodgings would have been among the first things a newly-arrived emigrant would have sought out.

America Street

The General Store in particular played an important role in the community, as it also provided a market for local produce where farmers would have bartered for items sold in the store. It was also a source of long-term credit, with most accounts being paid only once a year, when the harvest was over. The General Store was the centre of the town's life and a feature of American life for over two centuries. The variety of merchandise was considerable: bacon, eggs, chickens, tallow, flax-seed, dried apples and buckwheat flour were just some of the items taken in trade. Items for sale included ploughs, coffee, molasses, shoe-strings, maple sugar, tobacco, tinware, axes and cradle scythes. The dry-goods counter would have been equally heaped with yard goods, shirting, ribbons, buttons, thread, pins and needles.

No General Store, of course, would have been complete without a pot-bellied stove, where those who had nothing better to do sat around telling stories or playing checkers (draughts).

Across the street from the General Store is a replica of the First Mellon Bank of Pittsburgh, which Thomas Mellon opened in 1870.

ULSTER AMERICANFOLK PARK

American Street

ULSTER AMERICAN
FOLK PARK