On the morning of September 11, 2001, thousands were going about their daily activities, oblivious of the tragedy that was about to happen. Among them was Wall Street Journal editor Joanne Lipman, who went to a Lechters Housewares store in the World Trade Center concourse to get refrigerator magnets for her daughter’s birthday. Minutes after her purchase, the first plane hit the Twin Towers.
The receipt from her purchase, which read 8:55 a.m., is making rounds online as a haunting reminder of the moments before disaster struck. The small slip of paper has now become a piece of history linked to one of America’s most tragic events.
The story behind the receipt issued after the 9/11 disaster
Award-winning journalist Dean Rotbart shared the story behind Lipman’s purchase in his book September Twelfth. Lipman insisted on completing her purchase despite the growing panic around. The cashier warned her, saying they should get out of there, but Lipman refused to leave without her daughter’s gift.
She paid for the fridge magnets and got her $9.17 change before leaving the store while downplaying the horror unfolding above. It was not until minutes later that she realized what was happening. Today, her receipt stands as one of the last recorded transactions in the World Trade Center before the twin towers collapsed.
Other memorabilia from the 9/11 attack
The receipt joins other pieces of memorabilia like voicemails, personal belongings, and last messages from victims. Among them was Beverly Eckert’s husband, Sean Rooney, who was trapped on the 105th floor of the South Tower. He knew he would not make it out, so he called Eckert to say goodbye. Eckert told StoryCorps that Rooney maintained incredible composure even in the face of death.
Stories like these, including Lipman’s experience, are an example of how history often leaves behind unexpected traces. The September 11 attacks were not just a national tragedy but a personal loss for thousands of families.