Ever wonder what it cost to be well dressed in Toppenish 100 years ago?
Jim Thomas of the Toppenish Historical Society got some insights into that subject recently, when he received a ledger apparently from the Toppenish Cash Clothing Company.
The ledger covered the years 1908 to 1910, and included the names, clothing items and prices for sales during that period.
Perusing the entries revealed information that may well be of interest to students of Toppenish history.
Among the entries: “Richey Gilbert, suit, $12; J.L. Mullican, shirt, $2; J.G. Hillier, one pants, $4, shirt $1.25; Ira Nicholl, two union suits, $4.”
Thomas said he was first contacted by phone by the couple, Terri and Terry Koch, who Thomas said are both music instructors.
They asked him if he would be interested in having the ledger for the Mural Society’s archives.
The couple said they found the ledger in a box of sheet music from the 30s and 40s from  a thrift store warehouse operated by the church they attended.
When Thomas told them he was interested in the ledger, they mailed it to him.
The thin, bound volume is somewhat deteriorated, and its cover is separated from the rest of the pages, but the entries are clearly legible, though written in pencil.
Also tucked into the ledger were two invoices from Hart Schaffner and Marx in Chicago.
Because of the fragility of the ledger, Thomas said he has only looked at the first few pages so far, but he plans to look at all of them and make a listing of all the entries found there.
He said he was not familiar with the clothing store, when it was in operation or where it was located.
He encouraged anyone who has information about the store or who is interested in the ledger entries to contact him.
Thomas can be reached at (509) 865-2398, to make arrangements to view the ledger.