White's store at Camp Clarke, six miles from Bridgeport, was known in 1900 as the "Bee Hive" store. This stock was moved to Bridgeport a short time later and became the "Checker Front" department store. In November, 1901, Dr. J. S. Romine bought the Checker Front stock from White and also the J. A. Smith stock, then in the Heme Hotel building, and consolidated the two stores in the Smith location and called it the Department Store.

repair. The hardware stock later became the property of Beerline and Scott. The harness part of that business successively came into the control of W. H. Miller. Joe Turst and Howard Burke. The Hotel Valley on the corner near the depot was in 1900 run by Ed. Fitch. Later it was leased by Mike Beerline and run as the Melvin Hotel and later passed to the control of Iddings and LaFollette, and has been run recentlv bv Nellie Burke. D. W. I'tter had

J. S. Romine, proprietor. Dr. Romine with a wealthy ranch man and business man of Mitchell about this time purchased the general stock of the Millett mercantile company. He at various times also had other stores in the valley. Dr. H. P. Scroggin acted for a time as manager for some of these stores, removing here from Rantoul, Illinois. Moran Brothers and Sharp were running the Bridgeport restaurant. Win. McCarter had the blacksmith shop. The lumber business of Bridgeport was opening up about 1900 by Carr & Neft" and this concern is still here. James Wolff, the watchmaker and jeweler, has since left. F. FI. Wilder handled harness, hardware, and shoe