Picher, Oklahoma
End of an era--last business on Main Street closes
On a bright sunny day in June, 2001, the last business on Picher's main street was liquidated in a giant auction sale of the contents of Troy's Swap Shop. Five buildings full of from junk to antiques were sold to the highest bidder. Here we see cars lining the cracked street for probably the last time as the sale is not far from starting.
Buyers inspect the merchandise prior to the sale of the junk store. Stores like this one were common at Picher. During the 1950s, Dutch's junk store on Connell Ave was my favorite. Troy's place came along later and was a favorite of many antiquers for many years. Once, there were several of these places. Now all of them are gone.
Rusting old machinery and all sorts of bric-a-bak await the gavel of the auctioneer. Two other ancient buildings full of stuff are visible on the east side of Main.
