Monaghan General Store

Founded: 1855 | Founder: The Blevins Family

Owner: Monaghan Family Holdings

Type: Supply Store, Underground Supply Cache

Notable Figures

Horace Blevins (Founder): Original owner and founder of the General Store.
Josiah Monaghan (Owner): Though he rarely steps foot inside, Monaghan’s shadow is felt in every corner of the store. His grip on Shadewood Hollow tightens with every scrip spent here.
Earl Blevins (Manager): A man with sharp eyes and a steady hand, Earl appears to be Monaghan’s loyal servant, but his ledgers tell a different story. If you know the right questions to ask, he might “forget” to write down a debt or slip you a tool.
Martha Blevins (Co-Manager): Quiet, steady, and kind to a fault, Martha is the soul of the store. Her small acts of defiance go unnoticed by Monaghan’s enforcers, but the miners know who to ask when something "extra" is needed.

Overview

The General Store of Shadewood Hollow is more than a store — it’s a lifeline, a snare, and a symbol of quiet rebellion. Its weathered facade and creaking sign remind everyone that survival comes at a cost. Miners trade scrip for bread, tools, and lantern oil, but it’s not just goods being traded — it’s trust, debt, and defiance.

At the heart of it all are Earl and Martha Blevins, the husband-wife duo who run the store. On the surface, they’re dutiful to Monaghan’s system, logging every sale and counting every coin. But beneath that facade lies something sharper. Earl and Martha play a dangerous game, balancing loyalty to Monaghan with loyalty to the town’s working folk.

Earl Blevins is a man of precision. His sharp eyes catch every coin, every glance, and every move a miner makes. His official ledger is spotless, but every time a miner leaves with "damaged goods" or a logger finds a "forgotten" tool by his cabin, it’s Earl's rebellion at work. If you ever hear him say, “Check behind the crates,” you know luck’s on your side.

But it’s Martha Blevins who holds the town together. While Earl tracks debts, Martha handles people. She sees hunger before it’s spoken, slips extra soap into a miner's bag, and taps the sugar scale just light enough to stretch a pound. She calls it “good business,” but it’s more than that — it’s resistance. Miners don’t ask Earl for favors — they ask Martha. She doesn’t promise, but if she says, “Come back after supper,” you’ll find what you need waiting for you.

The Blevinses’ rebellion hasn’t gone unnoticed. Monaghan’s men suspect it, but they can’t prove it. One enforcer, Dale Pritchard, tried to search the storeroom. Earl let him. Calm, steady, watching Dale like a hawk. Dale left with nothing.

The townsfolk have a name for this assistance they recieve: “Owed to Blevins.” It’s not just about debts of coin. It’s about favors owed, trust kept, and loyalty given. If Earl or Martha call on you, you answer. You don’t snitch. You don’t ask questions. You help. Because you never know when you’ll need them. If Monaghan’s enforcers come sniffing, you keep your mouth shut.

If you ever need something extra, something Monaghan’s men shouldn’t see, just do one thing.
Lean in close. Keep your voice low. Ask for The Blevinses.

Secrets & Lore

The Front Room (The Storefront): The store's main floor is where mining tools, lantern oil, canned food, and simple fabrics are sold. But if you look closely, some tools—like crowbars and picks—are suspiciously underpriced during “rebel season.” It’s no coincidence.
The "Short Ledger" (The Two Ledgers): Earl Blevins is known to keep two ledgers—one official, one “short.” The short ledger tracks debts, but it also logs payments Monaghan’s men don’t see. Rumor has it Nellie herself has access to the short ledger, and she uses it to track who’s ready to join her cause.

General Store Roles

Stockhand – Responsible for unloading shipments, stocking shelves, and organizing inventory in the storeroom.
- Weekly pay: $5.00
Shop Clerk – Assists customers, manages the register, and handles day-to-day sales while keeping an eye out for shoplifters.
- Weekly pay: $9.00
Store Manager – Oversees daily operations, supervises staff, and enforces Monaghan’s pricing and credit policies.
- Weekly pay: $15.00
Store Owner – The ultimate authority over store operations, controlling prices, inventory, and who receives credit, often wielding as much power as Monaghan himself.
- Weekly pay: $20.00

Goods

Dried Goods: Flour (rye,wheat), oats, cornmeal, sugar, barley, beans, lentils and rice (seasonal).
Dried Fruits: Apples, berries, and pears preserved from the previous autumn.
Dried Meats: Salted jerky made from venison, pork, and beef.
Preserved Foods: Jars of fruit preserves (blackberry, elderberry, gooseberry), pickled vegetables, and canned meats (venison, rabbit, and bear meat).
Herbs & Spices: Dried herbs (basil, rosemary, thyme, and sage) and spices (cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, pepper, and salt).
Root Vegetables: Beets, carrots, potatoes, and turnips from Hollow Acres Barn (seasonal).
Sweets & Treats: Hard candies, barley sugar sticks, molasses, maple syrup, and honey (fresh or combed).
Fresh Produce: Apples, persimmons, hickory nuts, black walnuts, wild berries (blackberries, raspberries, elderberries - seasonal).
Tea & Coffee: Imported black tea, local herbal teas (sassafras root, pine needle, nettle), and ground or whole coffee beans.
Livestock Products: Eggs, milk, butter, cream, and cheese (fresh or aged).
Molasses & Honey: Thick molasses and wild honey used for sweetening dishes.
Fermented Goods: Hard cider.
Hardtack & Biscuits: Long-lasting bread, crackers, and hardtack for travelers.
Canned Goods: Corned beef, green beans, tomato, corn, peas, condensed milk, baked beans, and sardines.
Cloth & Textiles: Bolts of linen, cotton, burlap, and wool.
Clothing Basics: Pre-stitched shirts, work pants, skirts, aprons, and petticoats.
Crafting Tools: Needle sets, awls, thimbles, weaving shuttles, and spinning hooks.
Winter Gear: Fur-lined gloves, scarves, cloaks, wool hats, and mittens.
Boots & Shoes: Leather boots, moccasins, and simple canvas shoes.
Repair Supplies: Thread spools, buttons, hooks, and fabric patches for mending.
Protective Wear: Leather aprons, gloves, and heavy-duty work overalls.
Blankets & Quilts: Heavy blankets, patchwork quilts, and wool bedding.
Cleaning Supplies: Lye soap, brushes, washboards, and scrubbing stones.
Kitchen Tools: Cast iron skillets, kettles, ladles, rolling pins, and butter churns.
Cooking Fuel: Charcoal, firewood, and lamp oil.
Storage Containers: Clay jars, jugs, tin containers, and wooden crates.
Candles & Lighting: Beeswax candles, oil lanterns, and spare wicks.
Hearth Goods: Iron kettles, fire pokers, ash scoops, and fireplace brooms.
Spring Tonic: A popular seasonal remedy made from sassafras root and other herbs to "cleanse the blood." Often prepared by Maggie Finch and sold under-the-table.
Festive Decorations: Ribbons, candles, garlands, and symbols for town festivals.
Holiday Goods: Small gifts, trinkets, and preserved treats sold during holidays and special occasions.
Special Orders: If a desired item or product isn’t available locally, it can be ordered from another town. Shipments typically take up to two weeks during spring, summer, and autumn, but in winter, delivery may take up to a month due to harsher conditions.