In 1993, Virginia (Carlin) Hiller shared her family’s story of starting a new business in Valley Junction in 1929. What became Carlin’s Store was started by Virginia’s mother, Clara, and after much prodding, father Pat, and started a new chapter for the whole family. Here is Virginia’s story as recorded by the West Des Moines Historical Society. (please note, this document contains phrases that we recognize as an ethnic slur, but is presented as a personal memory.)
Carlin family story scan
