An Old-Fashioned Penny Store {Little House Party}

One of the fun activities for the Little House party I had seen was to have a "mercantile." Though it would have been ideal to have handmade items for the children to purchase, I took a different route.

(From left to right: popcorn balls, Juicy Fruit, Tootsie Rolls, peppermints, Twizzlers, candy corn, and aprons.)

I cut some brown paper bags with scrapbooking scissors and then mini-hole punches. Each bag contained ten pennies so that each guest could go shopping at Big Sister's Mercantile. I explained to the guests that they did not need to purchase everything; nor did they have to spend all of their money. (One particular guest was very excited to save most of her money!)

After a bit of on-line research (here was helpful), I determined that candy corn, licorice, peppermints, Tootsie Rolls, and Juicy Fruit gum all had origins in the 1800's and easily found.

Each of the old-fashioned candies were placed in a pint size canning jar with a sign explaining the cost for the party guests.

Popcorn was a great treat for the Ingalls family. I made popcorn balls for the mercantile, too. Though marshmallows, butter, and popcorn were all around in the 1800's, I do not know that anyone had combined them into popcorn balls yet. Some things do not need to be historically accurate!

The mercantile was a big hit. It was a fun way to send a treat home with the party guests.

More Little House Party Ideas
~ Little House Birthday Party
~ Little House Party Invitation
~ Little House Book Activities
~ Little House Dress, Apron, and Bonnet
~ Little House Mercantile Store
~ Felt Costume Braids
~ Little House Birthday Party Food

~ Annette {This Simple Mom}