User:Jencool17/Woods and Caples General Store/StaceySmithOSU Peer Review

Prof. Smith comments on the Wikipedia first draft
Lead:

- Explain what a mercantile is: basically a general store that sold a wide variety of goods in a small town.

Content:

I would change this sentence as follows to improve clarity and add in some missing detail:

Following the end of Caples’ and Woods’ partnership, the building became home to the “Hoffman and Allen Company General Merchandising” store. A.E Hoffman was a local builder and he joined forces with Marion Allen [describe him--a local merchant?], after buying out Allen's partner, F.A Waltrous.

- Did Hoffman and Allen actually purchase and own the building?

- Why was the ownership transferred to Martha Taylor? As the result of a disputed will? What was her relationship to Hoffman, Allen, or anyone else you have already mentioned?

- Did Simon Isenstein operate the store as the Grove Furniture store from 1935 all the way to 1972? Did he will it to his daughter on his death or give it to her as a gift?

- Were the Isensteins Jewish immigrants? If so, that would have been an interesting and unusual occurrence for small-town Oregon in this era and might be worth mentioning as part of the building's significance.

- What fraternal lodge used to be there?

- What is the store now? Is it still a furniture store? Can you provide any information on who owns it now and what purpose it still serves in Cottage Grove?

Style:

This generally looks goo,d but see above about fixing the sentence on Hoffman and Allen.

References:

These look good.