As we mark another Small Business Saturday, it’s worth remembering that the tradition of championing our local shops is hardly new to our town. In fact, a piece published in the Lake Mills Leader on October 20, 1887, reflects a sentiment that is still remarkably familiar today. The article described the importance of patronizing our local merchants and tradesmen and encouraged residents to spend their dollars where they would do the most good—right here in our own community.
Lake Mills Leader, October 20, 1887
SHOP AT HOME "Everyone can be a boomer...keep your money at home. Patronize those who patronize you. Spend your money among home institutions where you stand a good chance to get it back. Every dollar you spend with a stranger is gone forever. Every dollar you spend with a home man finds its way back to your pocket. A dollar spent in some other town goes to help build up that town. A dollar spent here fors to help build up your town. Figure the thing down fine and you lose money by buying away from home, even if you get the article for one-half what it would cost you at home. Remember this and act accordingly."
At the time, it might not have been called “Small Business Saturday,” but the essence of the idea was already firmly in place. Neighbors understood that when we invest in local storefronts, we strengthen our economic foundations, foster a sense of pride, and help ensure that distinctive local character endures for future generations.
As you head out this weekend to discover old favorites and perhaps a few new finds, remember that you’re not just participating in a day’s event. You’re continuing a long-standing legacy—one that dates back well over a century—of standing shoulder to shoulder with the businesses that help make our town what it is.
