Roda Company Store

The company operated store, called the "Company Sore" was the center for all social and economic dealings for the company towns. None of the camps were without one. The same railroad cars that carried the coal out of the towns brought in the town's supplies. Groceries, furniture, clothing, shoes, windows, buckets, drugs, black powder, and many other household gadgets were just some of the variety of items available in the store.

Keokee Company Store

The company store was also the offices of each coal camp official. The administrative officers occupied the upper floors. Many stores had payroll windows where miners would line up on Friday afternoon to receive their two weeks wages, minus any deductions for rent and utilities, the doctor's fee, and scrip advances. Most company stores had a scrip system. Scrip was a form of currency issued by the company. A miner's wages might be paid in scrip, and once paid in that form, the scrip could not be converted back into U.S. currency, but instead had to be redeemed in merchandise at the company store.