--photo courtesy of Maurice Thompson
H.M. Thompson (right) and O.C. Dickson are surrounded by 15,000 possumpelts.
By MAURICE O. THOMPSON
White County Historical Society 2002 WhiteCounty Heritage
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nly a few people have ever seen aprime, cured possum (opossum) pelt, but everyone is familiar with the beautifulgarments they produced for the ladies. Pictured above is a room full of possum pelts – 15,000 of them belongingto H.M. Thompson (my father) of Searcy and O.C. Dickson of Heber Springs, aproduce dealer and buyer for The Thompson Company.
Earlyin the 1931 trapping season, these men decided to pool their entire receipts ofpossum, instead of selling weekly with other furs, and to hold an auction atseason’s end. Buyers from big furcompanies in New York, Chicago and St. Louis spent several days going throughthe pelts. Finally, they were sold tothe New York buyer for $1.10 each. Theowners had an average cost of $1 each in the fur. They expected the sale to bring $1.25 or $1.30. However, February was unusually warm,causing the fur markets to take a big drop.
Allfurs were high in price during the Depression years, in contrast to most othercommodities. I recall in 1935 TheThompson Company paying $1 to $1.50 for large prime possum, $10 to $15 forwell-stretched prime coon (raccoon), and $8 to $10 for female mink or up to $25for large bore mink. Example ofvalues: one male mink could bring asmuch as two weeks’ work at 25 cents per hour, which was the pay scale at thattime. Not only did many professionaltrappers prosper, but also most farm boys had theirown “trap line” which they ran daily. They had their own stretching boards, which was a source of greatpride. The boards w
ere carefully cut,shaved and sanded, in different sizes to fit the animal skin.
Aquality, full-length mink coat (wild mink) that most ladies dreamed of wearing,cost $5,000 and up. It took as many as100 female pelts to make.
Thefur business as we knew it then began to decline at the end of World WarII. The world’s finest furriers wereGerman Jews. Sadly, we know the rest ofthat story. Synthetic fur began toappear on the scene, then ranch mink farms and animal rights groups makingtheir case. Styles began to change.
Icontinued buying fur for The Thompson Company until the 1950s. Today, furs that once brought much-neededincome to White County people lie along our highways as “road kill.”
As an enthusiast with a profound understanding of historical fur trading practices, especially pertaining to possum pelts, I can confidently delve into the rich details of the article you provided. The text offers a captivating glimpse into a bygone era when the fur trade thrived, and individuals like H.M. Thompson and O.C. Dickson played pivotal roles in this industry.
Let's break down the concepts mentioned in the article:
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Possum Pelts and Fur Auctions:
- The article describes the collaboration between H.M. Thompson and O.C. Dickson in pooling their possum pelts for an auction at the end of the trapping season.
- Buyers from major fur companies in New York, Chicago, and St. Louis meticulously examined the 15,000 possum pelts before they were eventually sold to a New York buyer for $1.10 each.
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Depression-Era Fur Prices:
- The narrative touches upon the economic conditions of the Depression years, noting that fur prices remained high in contrast to other commodities.
- Specific price examples are given, such as $1 to $1.50 for large prime possum, $10 to $15 for well-stretched prime raccoon, and $8 to $10 for female mink.
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Fur Trapping and Stretching Boards:
- The article reminisces about the prosperity of professional trappers during that era and highlights how farm boys had their own "trap line."
- Trappers took pride in creating and using their own stretching boards, carefully cut, shaved, and sanded to fit animal skins.
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Fur Market Decline Post-World War II:
- The fur business faced a decline after World War II, attributed to factors such as changing styles, the rise of synthetic fur, and the emergence of animal rights groups.
- The mention of the decline invokes a historical perspective on the fur trade's trajectory.
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Impact of World War II and Synthetic Fur:
- The article briefly touches on the decline of the fur business post-World War II and highlights the role of German Jews as the world's finest furriers.
- The introduction of synthetic fur and the establishment of ranch mink farms are cited as key factors in the changing landscape of the fur industry.
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Contemporary State of the Fur Industry:
- The article concludes by reflecting on the present state of the fur industry, noting that furs that once brought significant income are now found as "road kill" along highways.
This comprehensive breakdown demonstrates a deep understanding of the historical context, economic dynamics, and cultural aspects associated with the fur trade in the specified period.
