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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate NEWS NOW Trail camera spots two pups born to Rogue pack this spring ... Ashland Calendar, Thursday, Aug. 6 ... Our View: Watershed perspective ... Trail camera spots two pups born to Rogue pack this spring ... Ashland Calendar, Thursday, Aug. 6 ... Our View: Watershed perspective ... AS IT WAS: TALES FROM THE STATE OF JEFFERSON First self-service grocery store opened in 1920 in Medford Today's shoppers wheel carts through stores and head for the cash register. It wasn't always that way in Southern Oregon. Comment By Luana Corbin DailyTidings.com By Luana Corbin Posted Jun. 10, 2015 at 8:43 PM By Luana Corbin Posted Jun. 10, 2015 at 8:43 PM » Social News In 1920, grocers William A. Gates and William H. Lydiard opened the first self-service store in Medford. They called it the Groceteria. Shoppers using new-fangled, four-wheeled basket-carts strolled the aisles selecting items and visiting with neighbors. The Groceteria started as a small store in the Woolworth Building but soon moved to the corner of Central and Sixth streets. In 1930 a West Side Groceteria opened at Sixth and Grape. In 1946, Gates remodeled the Grape Street store, adding other goods for sale, including a bakery, meat department, fountain-lunch counter, and an egg candling department. Gates’ idea was to provide good, low priced food and a friendly shopping environment that promoted what he called “dinner table harmony.” The friendliness theme carried over to a radio show, “Friendship Circle,” sponsored by Groceteria and broadcast by KMED radio for 21 years. At the time it was believed to be the oldest show in the United States broadcast on a single station with only one sponsor. Sources: Webfooters. 17 Apr. 2009. Web 12 Aug 2014; “Medford Pioneers, William A. Gates.” Ed. Tina Truwe. Medford mail Tribune, 1920-1956. Web. 8 Aug. 2014. "Geneva Street (Humphrey-Knight Addition) / Old East Medford." News: New News is GREAT News. 8 Sept. 2012. Web. 18 Aug. 2014. As It Was is a co-production of Jefferson Public Radio and the Southern Oregon Historical Society. As It Was stories are broadcast weekdays on Jefferson Public Radio and are available online at asitwas.org. By Luana Corbin DailyTidings.com By Luana Corbin Posted Jun. 10, 2015 at 8:43 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501