Mail Pouch Barns & General Stores Driving Tour
The Greene County Tourism Promotion Agency has created a Mail Pouch Barns and General Stores Driving Tour. General stores were usually the first retail establishment built in a town. Townspeople bought almost everything they needed for their house at the general store. Items were stacked on the floor in the middle of the store, piled on counters, stacked onto shelves, and hung from ceiling hooks. Today, many of these small stores provide an opportunity to purchase local baked goods, cold beverages, and seasonal local produce.
General stores located near the River Towns include:
- Stan Lee’s, about 2 miles from Rices Landing, 1021 First Street, Crucible, PA
- Watson’s General Store, 941 Mapletown Road, Greensboro, PA
- Bobtown Market, about 6 miles from Point Marion, Baldhill Church Road and Bobtown Hill Road, Bobtown, PA
- The Lit’l Store, about 18 miles from Greensboro, 1004 Jefferson Road, Waynesburg, PA
- Ruff Creek General Store, about 12 miles from Rices Landing, 720 Washington Road, Ruff Creek, PA
- Rush Grocery and Video, about 19 miles from Rices Landing, 3267 West Roy Furman Highway, Rogersville, PA
At the turn of the 20th century the Bloch Brothers Tobacco Company of Wheeling, WV embraced their new slogan, “Chew Mail Pouch Tobacco—Treat Yourself to the Best”. The slogan was painted on private barns along routes heavily traveled by farmers. It is estimated that around 20,000 barns were painted with the Mail Pouch insignia; however less than 2,000 remain today. Compensation for the farmers for allowing their barns to be painted included free tobacco, $1 to $2 annually, free fresh coats of paint, or magazine subscriptions.
Several of the Greene County Mail Pouch Barns are located near the River Towns, including:
- Fox Property, about 5 miles from Greensboro, Sugar Grove, PA
- Gallatin Property, about 5 miles from Rices Landing, Carmichaels, PA
- Cain Property, about 15 miles from Point Marion, Mt. Morris, PA
- Lemley Property, about 13 miles from Rices Landing, Waynesburg, PA
- Vandruff Property, about 14 miles from Greensboro, Kirby, PA
- Thistle Property, about 19 miles from Rices Landing, Rogersville, PA
- Badali Property, about 13 miles from Rices Landing, Waynesburg, PA
- Lapping Property, about 13 miles from Rices Landing, Waynesburg, PA
Check out the Mail Pouch Barns and General Stores Driving Tour brochure, with driving directions.