The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1874-12-25
Il Great Phiiddeiphi0 Mercantile
House.

clothing wOllu. NCltueI VI tHS 0SthoiiSH~
ments are surpassed the world over in ori-
ginalty and completeness. The vast ware
house occupied by Oak Hall, of which we
give picture, covers the whole end of one
of the principal blocks in the business quar-
ter of the city, fronting on Sixth street 1SO
feet and on Market 66 feet. The huge
iron and brick facade, with its many win
: dows, stands where one hundred years ago
stood the famous mansion OF Robert Nor
ris the financier of the Revolution. I'm
mediately adjoining was the garden of
! George Washington, whose Presidential
mansion was then the first in the city. The
two young men composing the firm of w an
( amaker & Brown, whose names are so well
/ known through their large dealings and
! honorable record, began business in 1861.
/ Mr. Brown died in 1868, and Mr.. John
/ Wanamaker purchased the interest of Mr..
/ Brown from his executors when he became
/ the sole owner of Oak Hall. Fourteen
years of the most determined effort and
/ iron hearted pluck, coupled with admitted
skill, has built up one of the largest indus
tries, to which Philadelphia points with
just pride and the success of the young
merchants, even if deserved, stands out as
a grand illustration Of what integrity and
application will accomplish in this country.
We cannot enter into minute details, but
a glance at the features of Mr.. Wanama-
keI's business will be of common interest.
| The first thing that strikes one on looking
through the vast establishment is its re-
sembance to the great wareh ouse of the
Rylands, of Manchester, and similar soli0
business concerns of London, where ill.,
stead of vast, unbroken floors, numberless
rooms are connected, showing that accord
ing to the amount of business house after
house was added. This is the history Of
Wanamaker e. Browns establishment
From a very small concern it grew year 10y
year, almost, every year witnessing fresh
additions to it's wareTooms. Instead of
the immense rooms in which strangers
generally feel more or less awkwardness,
Oak Hall is a combination of moderate
sized rooms, where one feels at home I'M
medately. Promising that the establish
ment is strictly retail, we will take rapid
run through the house. This takes us,
on entering the door, by the gentleman's
furnishing department and between coun>
teis piled with youths, boys, and chill
dren's clothing, which occupy almost the
whole of the first floor. Rising to the
second floor by mammoth staircase, we
stand in the custom department. where
goods are made to measure. Adjoining is
the pantaloon room, the room for black
goods only and the room for extraordinary
sized men. On the third floor are the coat
rooms and rooms for the inspection of gar
ments. The fourth floor is devoted to the
cutting rooms, trimmings department., and
stock rooms /; fifth floor, the piece goods
and sponging rooms, department for mail
orders and reserve stock rooms and the
sixth floor rooms are for manufacturing
If ever there was human beehive Oak
Hall is that place. Notwithstanding the
buzz and activity thl oughout the whole
concern, there is the air of order and sys-
tenn that impresses one that somebody
about the place knows how to plan and or
ganize. Inquiry shows that all depart
ments are like the wheels of great clock,
each in their place doing proper service,
the key that keeps everything going be-
ing held by master hand.
The most striking popularity Of the
house is the course taken to obtain high
excellence by employing good workmen,
training them in the service of the house,
and by kindly deeds attaching them to the
establishment and it's proprietors. 1t is
said that any one who becomes associated
in business with Oak Hall regrets to leave
it's kindly roof. Almost all its hands are
''old hands"
Another feature is that afforded by ex-
traordiuary foresight and vast cash capt.
tai in securing direct from manufacturers
immense lots of goods at prices less than
that for which they are usually sold. The
importers and owners OF mills seek OAK
Hall when for any reason they are desir-
Gus of reducing their stocks, and in this
way purchases are made that enable the
house TO sell their celebrated clothing at
retail at lower prices than most of the
wholesale houses sell the same qualities,
which are not so we'll manufactured, by
lots of dozens. For example, during our
visit to the house a purchase was made OF
1000 pieces of heavy beaver ovcrcoatings
for the winter of 1915. OF course they
were obtained so far ahead of the time
needed from a concern anxious to realize,
] than GREATLY nndpr the
! price This one bill of one lot of one kind
! of goods amounted d to SS9, ,375. This serves
! to show the financial ability OF the house
and the kind Of operations it makes. 1t is
therefore clear that such concern, doing
business running to the millions, can bring
large advantages to its customers IN cheap
ening the price of at least one of the ne
cessaries of life The system i'll which
business is done is so far as we know, un-
like anything in practice in the United
States. On each garment is a small print
ed label, bearing the accurate name OF the
material as well as the character ofthe man
facture, SO that nothing is left for doubt
either to the customer DIT salesman. With
each purchase the customer takes away a
little paper containing the signature of
the firm to a guarantee of the article sold.
Articles sold may be returned within
fixed time and when presented at the CASH
| ier's desk all the money paid for them can
be drawn back, just the same rs if they
were checks on a bank. One price is mark
ed in plain fignres on each article, and no
deviation allowed. Statesmen are polite
and uncommonly cheerful. little sign
on one of the walls is significantly true,
''No grumbling people at Oak Hall"
| We close this article with great admira-
tion for the splendid triumph andbright
| business enterprise of fWanamaler & Brown.
| The old firm name has always been kept
up Though without any interest other than
! that of Mr.. Wanamaker and Mr.. John. +.
/ Hillman, admitted in 1871, and If our
| judgment is good for anything, this bouse
/ will make still greater mark in :he mer>
camille history of our country. Common
sense, quick perception, rapid execution
and integrity is the character of its chief,
! who is still young man, popularity called
'only boy yet.''-N. Y. Daily Graphic.