The Rutland weekly globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-11-14
LOCAL SKETCHES.
hurt & shcrman's Dry Goods EnI-
pOrium.

efauOn Ill reCOuntinB tne history anu cApV-
rience of our oldest merchants. Such
recital gives us, too, a true glimpse of years
ago, and produces before us the vivid and
striking contrasts of then and now. The
commercial men of the past, who are still
| in business, learned by the best of teaching
| the many lessons then which they cannot
fail to profit by in this progressive age.
| The people, aware of the value of such
experience, become accustomed to patron
ize and believe, in their business relations
with these men, what they are not willing
| to consider with perfect confidence when
coming from the amateur business man.
Consequently there are two great advanta-
gcs gained by an experience with the voca-
ton pursued The observer and the pur-
chaser, in their separate capacity in taking
q look at the dry goods establishment of
Burt fisherman in this village, will each
be he'd to believe that master hand is at
The head, whose handiwork Is plainly dis
cerniblc in the stock of goods selected the
care bestowed upon the wants Of the pub
lie custom in general, and the advantages
gained by a thorough knowledge of the
market in Offering the best of goods at the
most reasonable prices
1t is a well established fact that Rutland
prides herself upon the possession of the
largest and most complete retail dry goods
house in Nermont-the establishment of
Mcssrs. Burt 81 Sherman. The master
hand referred to is Mr.. Il. H. Burt, the
senior partner, who is the oldest merchant
in Rutland, although yet in the prime of
life having been actively engaged in bnsi.
ness, in Rutland, since 1850. In referring
| to the time Of his start in business it may
| be well to 20 back to those days and give
| a brief glance at its history. And in doing
so it will be interesting to speak of Charles
| Burt, the father of benjamin H., with
whom the son was associated at that time.
Mr.. Charles Burt came to Rutland in
| 1912, and associated himself in business
with Mr.. Mcconnell, under the firm name
of Burt & Mcconnell. The firm opened
store in the brick block owned by DR.. Pur-
ter on the north side of the park, and be-
gan trade with general assortment, made
up of dry goods. boots and shoes, crockery
hardware and medicines. he firm con-
tinued in business for many years when its
name was changed to that of Burt < Ma
son, by the retirement of Mcconnell and
succession to the business by Mr.. Mason.
| This firm done what was then considered
a very extensive business, and, in conncc-
ton with their retail trade, speculaicd in
wool and other staple products, sometimes
to their material benefit and at others to
| their loss. This firm remained intact for
many years previous to 1919, when Charles
| Burt was appointed postmaster Of Rutland,
which position he held for three successive
years. In the spring Of 1850 the firm be
came Burt & Son, by the accession to part
nership of Mr. Is. H. Burt. Their store
was then located on the east side OF the
park, on Main street, and in which they
then had the post-0lce. The father and
son did most of their business themselves,
having at one time a young apprentice to
learn the business. They staid there ten
years, doing a very good trade, selling
| from s@9, 900 to $40, 900 n year, vhen.--in
1860, the current of business beginning to
concentrate nearer the depot, down town,
they rented a store in CramtOn & Nichols
block on Merchants Row, fitted it up in
fine style and making it the most desirable
establishment in town. They very soon
thereafter divided the stock and the son,
Benjamin II. Burt, came into full posses
sion of the business, while the father, died
in 1861 In April 1864 Mr.. Burt rented a
store in Ripleys new block, across the
street, in the rooms now occupied by the
Rutland County National Bank, that block
being then just erected. Mr.. Burt rented
this store for the term of six years, during
which time he was engaged assiduously in
meeting the requirements of the large
trade that fell to his lot. At the eXpira-
ton OF the term of his lease, in April 1870
Mr.. Burt secured portion of the hand
some block on tire cast side of Merchants
Row, built by Chester Kingsley, and fitted
up the same according to his own good
taste and in the most convenient and suit
able manner for his business.
In February '73, Mr.. E c. Sherman
formed copartnership with Mr.. Burt I'M
der the firm name of Burt & Sherman
which firm are now engaged in the dry
goods business at the location last describ
ed. Recognizing the demand of RUTLAND
people for first-class establishment in tho
; dry goods line, the firm have endeayored t.
q make their store the headquarters for thai
} class of goods in this vicinity, and righ
well have they done it, having now. as w
have before mentioned the largest anC
: most complete assortment of dry goo Is il
Vermont. The store is 80 feet deep will
a very extensive capacity for goods, LIGHTED
: by day by means of large plate windows
/ and at night by an abundance of gas. Tn,
4, visitor, ON entering is ushered through
S labyrinth of silks, shawls, and ladies' good
= of every conceivable variety, and is waite,
4 upon by the proprietors and several com
: petent clerks. The salesroom is fitted NJ
? in such manner as to display the elabor
= ate stock of goods to the best possible ad
t vantage and to give an abundant opportu
: nity for the purchaser at the same time
> Mr.. Burt has always dealt largely witt
! the well-known house of A. T. Stewart {
IS Co., of New York, buying his goods il
a such an amount as to defy competition
= either in price or quality. Guided by
/. long and valuable experience in the busl
G ness, both in buying aud selling, the ir
e are enabled to meet the demands of the la
V dies, in every department, with cspeciu
promptness. Every variety of ladies ful