Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-11-11
lancaster fntelligetlcer.
FRIDAY EVENING, NOV. II, 1881.
Strawbridgc & Clothier's New Store.

Strawbridgc & Clothier's New Store.
Philadel phia Ledger of Nov. lst.
Among the many improvements on
Market street, few are so conspicuous as
the high, wide and handsome building on
the northwest corner of Eighth, occu pied
as the dry goods house of Strawbridge &
Clothier.
The present large structure has been
added to at successive periods, being origi-
nally small store on the northwest cor
ner of the streets named, fronting % feet
on Market. and running back so feet. At
that time it was occupied as retail dry
goods store by Justus G. Strawbridge, the
business having been established in 1852.
Only ono floor was used by MIR. Straw
bridge. In 1868 the firm of Strawbridge
& Clother was established, by tho admis-
sion OF Mr.. Isaac II. Clothier to partner
ship. That year an adjoining store on
Market street and small store on Eighth
street were rented, giving the firm a
frontage of 46 feet on Market street by a
depth of G7 feet on Eighth street. In 1874
the business of the firm had so increased
that 4 further enlargement was necessary
and two stores on Eighth street were Sc
cured, atfording an entire depth of 100
feet. Up to this time the firm had rented
the properties occupied by them. In 1874
they purchased the buildings then occu-
pied by them. and a few years
later bought tho three stores ad-
joining their property on the west,
with. Market street front. The newly ac-
4uired buildings were torn down, and on
their site was erected one large building,
so constructed and arranged as to form
part of. and correspond in style with, the
buil,lin. proper. In 1880 a sill further
enlargement was found to be necessary,
and Mcssrs. Strawbridgo & ClOthier Sc
cured by purchase eleven small houses
facing on what was known as Filbert av-
enue-a narrow court running 200 feet
south from Filbert street. The work OF
demolshing the row Of small houses and
erecting new building was Immediately
begun, and when the new structure was
finished the firm had one continuous limo
or surface Of floor extending all the way
from Market street to Filbert street. In
the spring of the present year the two
properties, one on the southwest corner OF
Eighth and Filbcrt streets and the other
adjoining on the south, were purchased.
The stores and building that stood upon
those lots were new, but differed in gener-
al appearance and style from the Straw
bridge 4 Clothicr new building. They
were therefore torn down and one build.
ing erected corresponding in finish and
design to the general workmanship Oh the
older buildings of the firm.
As nearly completed, the building is
handsome. capacious aud in every way
we'll adapted to the wants of 4 large mcr-
camille Louise. The first story on Market
street is of iron front, and the other stories
of Pictou stone. The Eighth street fronts
and the Filbert street rear are faced with
pressed brick, with ornamental trimmings
of brick and stone cappings and cornices.
The first floor of the main or front build
ing, as we'll as the long. narrow depart
ment running back to Filbert street, and
the new stone not yet completed, On the
corner, a!e all given up exclusively to the
extensive retail business of the firm.
Heavy, dark wood counters run along the
walls. and ranged about the centre OF the
floor Gem to divide the large store into 4
number of smaller establishments. The
place is fitted up with all the modern
convcnicnces, and is finished in hard wood.
Near the westernmost door on Market
street is capacious elevator finished in
walnut 1t runs from the basement to the
floor. The second story, like the first has
the full depth of the improved building. The
front part is used as the salesroom, where
ladies' cloaks, coats, dresses and general
garments ale sold. To afford light to the
ground iio,-, al opening is had in the
floor OF the second story, which gives it
the appearance Of a gallery to the lower
salesroom. La the rear is ladies' waiting
room, the tables furnished with news.
papers. periodicals, &c. Further back are
the fitting and drcSsmaking departments.
Between the second and third floors, in
the rear of the main building, is a sort Of
Semi-story, which is occupied as the
auditing department. and for officers The
entire third floor in the main building is
used as salesrOom for the wholesale
business The fourth floor is occupied as
receiving and storage room, where the
stock is first brought by 4 freight elevator
when admitted to the house. Here it is
examined and arranged. On this floor is
also a mail order department, where about
forty young men are engaged in attending
to the business correspondence and ship
ments OF the house. \ fashion paper is
published here for circulation among the
patrons of the firm. On this floor, as
indeed throughou the house, may be seen
standing ut intervals along the floor 4
string of buckets flied with water. Above,
on the wall, is a card notifying the observ-
er where the differant apparatus that
might be used i'm case of fire is kept.
On the fifth, or top floor, are large par
titioned rooms used for different branches
of the trade. One of the chief Industries
to be noticed here is shirt making, at
which are employed a large number of
girls. They use sewing machines, which
are run by steam. On this door also are
take their meals during working hours.
In all ofthesc different departments some
new modern appliance has been recently
introduced, and cOnduces to the comfort
of the employees Or the better workings of
the big building.
The long area Of store standing on
the site of old Filbert avenue is but two
stories in height. The new property at the
end is four stories in height, and of the
same general design as the building
proper. On the first and second floors are
salcsrooms. The third and fourth floors
arc occupied rs sewing rooms. Here a
large force Of young women arc at work
in rooms which have probably no superior
in this country for brightness, ventilation
and general comfort Lunch rooms for
the girls are also placed on these floors.
An elevator in the Filbert street extension,
just completed runs to the top of tho new
building.
The entire property is admirably lighted
and ventilated. On the lower floors a
large skylisht affords ample light, all in
clined artists windows make the illumi-