Panaca Market
142 Years of Community Service
Panaca Market
Photo by Robert Dotson
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By Robert DotsonWith many of our local residents celebrating Pioneer Day this weekend, being hosted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Panaca. There is no better way to begin than with a store opened by the very people they are celebrating.
Back in the middle of the 1800’s is when the first pioneers settled the territory known as Meadow Valley and is now known as Panaca. The settlers had an immense need for supplies and merchandise. December 8, 1868, a co-op store named The Panaca Cooperative Mercantile was organized and opened with all the settlers as stockholders. Merchandise was brought from Salt Lake City, a distance of 350 miles by mule teams. Four teams of six mules each were on the road constantly as a month was required to make the trip to Salt Lake and return. As the name implies, every one cooperated by pitching in their money and time in order to buy enough stock to keep it well stocked with clothing, groceries and all the merchandise needed to survive. More then a general store it was the economic heart of the growing community.
Only three buildings in Southern Nevada are older than that of the Panaca Merc., the Mormon Chapel in Panaca and what is left of the Mormon Fort in Las Vegas.
Charles P. Ronnow acting as president of the board of directors, which over saw the store had a son that eventually bought up all the stock and became the first owner of the store. From that time on it became a meeting place for the town’s people and a place to talk of their farms and the world affairs in general.
In 1953 Mr. and Mrs. Robert Dotson “Bob” bought the Co-op, naming it The Panaca Mercantile, from Lory Free who had gotten it from C.P. Ronnow’s grandson, Eric Ronnow. Bob and Blanche Dotson continued running the business until 1961 when the asked there oldest son Bryce Dotson and his new wife Jeanett to move to Panaca and take over the management of the store.
With the Passing away of Bryce in 1981 Jeanett was left to manage a newly remodeled and greatly expanded store to her self, which she did with the help of her son Orrin. In 1993 Jeanett decided to turn control of the management of the store to her sister Kay Poteet and her husband Leon.
Fifty three years later another Robert Dotson decided that it was time to take over the family business and move his wife Erica and newly started family back to where he was raised and assume control of what is now called the Panaca Market. In just 4 years we have seen great changes modernizing the store to fit the needs of these fast-paced times.
With over 142 years of warmth and support from the locals in the community, it will be celebrating its customer appreciation week August 2nd thru the 7th.
There will be daily giveaways throughout the week ending with hamburgers and a grand prize drawing Saturday the 7th.
