Probably Yordan Popov’s experience from the pre-war years in Bulgaria helped him find work in the US. He had owned his own store even back in 1910. We find a notebook from the period of 1910–1912, from which we learn what kinds of products were bought in the Bulgarian village of Arablar. We find out what the prices were at that time, and how people delayed repaying their credit – the usual way of paying in the villages in those years. Among the food and household goods, alcohol occupied a significant place – rakia, wine, beer. But small objects for gifts, suitcases, and even engagement rings were also bought.

From the “Notebook of Yordan C. Popov, resident of the village of Arablar – Povopo district,” 1910

Bai (Mr.) Stancho Momchilov (messenger), v. Dere
16 January lent for the account of Ivan Ralchev – 2 levs
18 January 1 kg bacon – 1.80 levs
20 January one tobacco, one kg wine – 60 cents
20 January 600 gr soap, kg sugar, 1 spool, 50 gr. rakia – 2.85 levs

Church board, v. Dere:
candles and 2 kg rakia – 4.20 levs

Yani Petkov
14 March: 3 cases of beer – 57 levs
31 March: 1 keg of rakia – 44.25 levs
10 April: 1 keg of 30 l of rakia – 36 levs
11 April: 30 liters rakia – 36 levs

Sheremetler school board
12 January: For putting in 4 of their windows and one of mine – 1.30 levs

Zlatan Rizov
11 January: 1 tobacco and 2 teas – 30 cents
14 January: 1 cobbler’s spool and 4 coffees – 65 cents
18 January: 2 coffees, 2 teas, and one tobacco – 40 cents
30 January: burlap and notebook – 2 levs
18 February: 1 pair peasant sandals – 1.50 levs
22 March: 1 egg soap and 2 teas – 60 cents

Dine Ivanov
8 January: 2 coffees to the excise [на акцизните] – 10 cents
6 February: 1 ball of twine – 1.30 levs

Savka Rizova
10 January: one egg soap – 50 cents
14 January: two rings and hazel stalks – 75 levs

Geona Stamenova
14 January: one suitcase and 2 kg sugar – 45 levs

Elena Velichkova
28 January: 5 kg salt – 1 lev

Gligor Harizanov
28 January: 1 rope and 2 strings – 1.40 levs

Arso Petrov
15 April: some peasant sandals and string for Angela – 2.10 levs
1/8 coffee – 80 cents