Up for sale is an authentic, original 1894 handwritten commercial receipt from the account of W.A. (William A.) McCrea of Canton, Ohio.
This unique piece of historical paper ephemera was sent directly to the Society of Separatists of Zoar at Zoar Station, Ohio, catching the famous utopian religious commune in its final decade of operation before dissolving in 1898.
Fascinating Financial and Historical Details:
- Early Payment Discount: The receipt explicitly documents a highly unusual $2.76 cash discount granted to the Zoar Society for settling a $57.25 bill before it was due, resulting in a net paid total of $54.49.
- The Panic of 1893 Era: While the rest of the United States was paralyzed by a major macroeconomic depression and severe cash shortages, this document proves that the communal Zoar Society maintained excellent cash liquidity—allowing them to pay off outside debts early to capture vendor discounts.
- Local History: Connects W.A. McCrea, a notable late-19th-century Canton figure, directly to the communal economy of Tuscarawas County, Ohio.
Specifications:
- Date: 1894
- To: Zoar Society (Zoar Station, OH)
- From: W.A. McCrea (Canton, OH)