Civil War-dated partly-printed document, one page, 8.25 x 3.5, September 18, 1862. A pay order issued to A. M. Simpson, the treasurer of the “Cooper Shop, Volunteer Refreshment Saloon” in Philadelphia, directing him to pay “W. Warner” a total of $145.12. The order is numbered “1286,” with “Beef” annotated in the upper left. In fine condition.
Civilians in some major Northern cities established ‘volunteer refreshment saloons’ to provide troops with good food, a clean bed, washing facilities, and the opportunity to write and post – free of charge – a letter home. In some instances, the women who served with the U.S. Sanitary Commission were involved with the refreshment saloons. Local volunteers, including merchants, also contributed their time and their merchandise to support the troops. Philadelphia residents established two of these refreshment saloons: the Cooper Shop Volunteer Refreshment Saloon and the Union Volunteer Refreshment Saloon. The latter, which closed on December 1, 1865, after feeding nearly 900,000 men, was organized by a local grocer, Barzilai S. Brown.
