Lets go back a ways, say, around the 1850s and 1860s. Your on a canal boat floating along the Ohio Canal and you have just entered the outskirts of the city of Akron. It's hot and your tired and hungry. So what do you do? Well, the boat's commander has told his tiny crew that they were going to pull up and dock so they could get provisions. You climb over the side and spot a nice looking building. It's a store and meat market. The name of the place is "Mustill's".

On that hot day you trod with your coat held over you shoulder and arrive at the door of the Mustill store. There's people standing and sitting on the boardwalk out front. A couple of them are playing checkers but most are farmers and businessmen standing around talking over the day's news. As you walk through the door, you can smell rolls baking and that undesirable smell of raw meat. But that's how most stores smell at this time. There's a few chairs by the wood stove so you sit down. Of course, the stove is cold. People are around buying groceries, some hardware and a couple of ladies are in the back corner looking over a bolt of clothe. You approach the counter and you meet Mrs. Emma Mustill. She and husband Fred own the store. Fred is outside helping the boat's crew load up supplies. You ask Mrs. Mustill if there is anything to eat. She smiles and tells you to go out front and she will bring you something from the meat shop next door. You buy three nickel cigars from her plus a box of matches for 3 cents. As you sit on the front steps, Emma brings a plate of sliced meat and cheese and a slice of buttered bread. Since you had already bought the cigars and matches, she tells you the plate of food is her gift. She smiles and says that she understands how hungry someone can get riding the canal boats. You thank her and begin to eat. You haven't had anything since late last night so this tastes really good. A short time later the crew are all back on the boat and the commander motions for you to get aboard. As you leave now with a full stomach and a nice cigar in your lips, you watch the store fall back into the distance. You've just been to the Mustill store. The lady was nice and the meat was excellent.