Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-06-22

Mechanic Falls, one of the growing
villages OF Maine, is now brought into
very close connections with Oxford Coun-
". and our people are looking to that
Mace more and more as trading post
The Rumford Falls and Buck6eld Rail-
mad and the Grand Trunk connect at
this point, and their time tables are so
arranged as to accommodate both the east
ern and western sections of this county.
Ry consulting the fables, published in
our advertising columns, il viii be seen
that visitors by either road may spend a
few hours or a whole day, at Mechanic
Falls. and return 70 their homes without
great fatigue.
Many Of our people visit Lewiston and
Portland for trading purposes; but find
j, very inconvenient, as much of their
time Is passed on the cars. or a long and
h,iguing day is inevitable This may
be avoided by doing business at Mechanic
Fails. One look at the business house
Of J. A. Bucknam X Co, viii convince
al tha, this Is not country store, but
q general emporium, such as are now
50 popular in the cities. The store is
large three story brick structure, which
with is extensions Is over lbs feet deep.
The basement Is devoted to provisions,
and is under the charge of Mr.. Deroma
Bates. formerly Of Paris Hill Mr.. Bates
has been with the firm for eleven years,
and has increased the sales Of his depart
mcnt from $4,000 TO S56,000 per year.
Groceries and country produce are pur-
chased and kept on hand in immense
quantities, giving purchasers opportuni-
ties 20 secure the best goods at bottom
uriccs.-as large stocks may be obtained
on most favorable terms. A meat de-
partment. with cxccllcn; ice chest, &C.,
make, IL very convenient for household |
ers. The grain department Is very ex
tcnsivc, and as Tie firm owns a mill, and
does is own grinding, meal, &c, can be
secured in any quantity az surprisingly |
low figures.
The second floor Is in charge Of j. II. |
DcCoS;er, formerly Of Buckield-thus
both branches of Oxford County are rep
resented. This section is devoted to dry !
goods, fancy goods, boots and shoes, Gus
tom tailoring, &c You can get any
thing YOU want here for housekeeping,
and there Is no need Of visiting the city
for ANYTHING Of the kind One reason
why this firm can sell the same goods at
less than city prices, IS that they own
their buildings, and do not have TO pay
exorbitant city rents and taxes.
The remainder Of the building Is de-
voted 10 the clothing business, usually
denominatct sale work. This business
was begun by Nj J. 4. Bucknam. in
1854, and it has grown to immense pro
portions. The hrn now makes 10000
garments per month, employs 20 hands
in the building, and has the names Of
over l.5OO workers on its books. Much
of this sale work Is done by Oxford
County people. Oxford and Hebron are
in the immediate vicinity and DO large
share. Up the Grand Trunk, work i
sent as far as Bethel. On the Rumford
Falls road. Buckfeld. Hartford, Sumner
and Canton are visited. j. A Gerry,
their agent az Canton, branches out with
teams, and distributes the work through
Peru. Dixfeld, Mexico and Rumford.
Many families find in this business their
only means Of support. The magnitude
Of this work was q pleasant surprise to
Us, as i doubtless viii be TO our readers.
The firm Is agent for the New Davis
Vertical Feed Sewing Machine, which It
advertises extensively IN this paper. Large
numbers Of the machines are sold on the
ins,allment plan, and many are paid for
entirely by doing sale work, without the
outlay Of one cent in cash.
Among the minor items Of business we
find the Smith American organs for sale,
and also q good insurance agency con-
nected with the establishment.
When speaking Of the sale work, we
should have also noted the custom tailor
ing business, which Is very extensive.
Tbs goods are purchased from well known
manufacturers, and are both durable and
elegant. Mr. Bucknam, the cutter, Wis
is Portland and other places, where he
takes measures Of his customers, and
then has the work done at home. In
tL., way De Is able 70 cut under city
prices, and give equally as good satisfac-
,ioa.
Nr. J. \. Bucknam, the senior mem
Der Of the firm, has been in the business
for thirty seven years, beginning at West
N.o, in 1913. From a small beginning
has grown up this large business, which
now amounts 70 over one hundred thou
sand dollars per year. Mr.. Cannon has
been connected with the business for
seventeen years, Mr.. Bates for eleven
years. and Mr.. Gerry, the Canton agent.
f1y over ten years. This policy Of secur-
ia. good, honorable assistants, and keep |
IN them, has aided greatly in building !