Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-10-04
STEWARDS STORE NO LONGER.
The Last Of the Great Dry Goods Firm.
CHANGES THAT ARE MAKING IN THE BUILDING
TALK WITH JUDGE HILTON

CHANGES THAT ARE MAKING IN THE BUILDING
TALK WITH JUDGE HILTON
From the n. Y. Tribune.
There was little indication in Stewards store
last Saturday afternoon that the last day of its
occupancy under the name Of A. T. Stewart &
Co. had arrived. There were about the usual
number of shoppers aud clerks along the coun-
tiers. A wooden partition was being erected
across the store, east and west, to divide the
floor for the retail and wholesale firms. The
former will use the north side and the latter the
south. excepting space in the southeast cor
ner, which Judge Hilton will reserve during the
time necessary to settle up the accounts Of
the old firm. The clerks were busy in
changing the goods from one side Of the store to
the other last evening. The new firms will take
the present stock on hand and will also open
with new goods as well tomorrow. The same
system OF doing business will be adhered to as
was used by the old firm. and as the same en-
plOyees as a rule will be retained, there will
scarcely be "a new face at the door, to shop
pers who call at the famous store. Edwin j.
Denning, who superintendent the retail business
of the old firm is the new proprietor of the re-
tail business. OF the new wholesale firm Sam
uel GrOOcOck was at the head Of Stewards hos
iery department, Horace C. Sylvester was at the
head OF the Paris branch of the house. Edward
Is,
and Henry Graham Hilton. another son, has
been in charge of the mill department for two
years.
Judge Hilton was at the store yesterday and
talked with Tribune reporter in regard to the
changes taking place. .Of course it is to be
interested in this store. 1t is known all over
and is almost public enterprise in some re-
spects. 1t is sixty years since the flag of A. T.
stewart was raised over the store, and the
of hr,,i
During all that time it has been an honorable
and hOnored firm, and it never had better
patronage or finer stock than at present. The
building has the best Of facilities for accommo-
dating the public
"Will the closing of A. T. Stewart & Co. g
business throw many people out of employ
mOnt?"
well. had 1900 names on the list before
closed some of the departments; and there
were about 1000 in the city. But the clerks in
this store will be employed by the new firms
with few exceptions. and indeed some OF
those who sought position elsewhere are want
ing to be taken back. The other goods
houses were anxious to get hold of them. 1t
was the same way IN our branch houses. We
have supplied clerks to lots of houses. The
head Of our Lyons house secured new position
before he left the old one. That was one
reason why gave the notice on April of the
proposed retirement of the firm. The employees
would thus have chance to find employment
trade. good number did so. Many re-
manned and were apparently much pleased every
time postponed the closing of the store, as
did from July to August and then to October
When it was announced that the business was
to be carried on by new firms the clerks
were pleased, and Mrs. Stewart was glad ALSO
SO was l. Some people seem to think should
have consulted them, and some newspapers think
L should have consulted them. The only reason
sold out the business was that was tired. 1t was
OF fot,l for L.
was not. But this store, with its seven branch
houses, several mills and the property in Gar
den City and this city. were too much to attend
to. was wearing out 1 could not 20 to Sar-
atoga or Garden City without being beset by
kilograms, and l could not go anywhere else
Now that have settled it SO as to keep the
store open and give the employees a chance to
keep at work, am happy. Many ladies have
also expressed great satisfaction on learning
that the business would be carried on"
" How about the branch houses ?"
'They Will be closed, excepting the Paris
house, which will be kept open by the new
wholesale firm. That was the best organized
foreign house In Paris. The clerks there are
generally not up to the ef1ciency'of Americans
Ihey want room to themselves and the privi-
lege OF taking home the books to write them
up. Our Nottingham mill will be taken by the
wholesale firm, and it's product, the Star under
wear, sold to the retail house. 1t has 400 en-
plOyes inside and 400 outside. The carpet fac
at least till l use up the wool on hand-over a
million pounds. The building itself Is an i'm
mense one. having $4,000, 600 bricks in It, The
carpet is being taken here faster than can
make it, but will not promise any ahead"
what will the upper floors of the stores be
used for?"
81 intend to make the whole building into
commercial apartment house; something unique
in the country, guess. presume the present
firm will keep the two first floors; that is, if
they pay the rent The other floors shall di-
vide and tit up for wholesale dry goods firms.
| will provide elevators for each section, and
have the rooms lighted by electricity and taken
care of, SO that a man need not look at his store
after he gets through business. 1 expect that
dealers who have to climb up stairs in dark
stores further down town will be glad to get in
a well-lghted, fire-proOf structure such az this
The plans are already drawn for the proposed
alterations, and they would have been begun
sooner only that the carpenters are busy alter
ing the old wholesale store at Chambers street
and Broadway. Two stories will be added to
that, and Edisons electric light put In, so as to
make it f1rst-class office building"