The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-07-13
AN ELEGANT STORE.
LORING, SHORT & HARMON'S NEW
ESTABLISHMENT
One of the Finest Book stores in New
England.

Yesterday noon, the representative Of the
Press receiving information that Messrs. Lor-
| ing, Short & Harmon had become settled in
their new quarters at Lancaster Building, and
were prepared to receive callers, made an in
spection of their beautiful store.
Messrs. Loring, Short and Harmon occupy
the half of the building on the corner OF Ger
ter street and Market Square, or at least three
stories and the basement. The second story
will be rented. The main floor is 100 feet long
50 feet wide, and Is feet high. The other
floors of course correspond to this in point of
length and breadth, and nearly so in height.
The show windows at the main entrance are
about thirteen feet in length by eight feet in
depth, and each lighted at night by six large
gas-lamps By day the main floor receives
ample light, from eight windows, on the side
and rear, which is softened by yellow shades.
The floor is well worthy attention for it is con-
structed of birch ,blindnailed, land is rare fea-
ture in store in Portland.
As the visitor enters the room he finds on the
right the retail book department filled with
the latest publications, Here are swinging
CdnCos WIN COlAlcIenplO oOAso III AAoAsj
the lounger can select book at his ease. Ele-
CANT book cases line the walls filed with books
in resplendent bindings Long, beautiful show
cases are filed with all the nobbiest stationery
and fancy articles, usually found in the book
trade. We must not omit to say that all the
fnishings of this floor are in cherry beautifully
carved and polished, and the show cases,
made by Peterson, Of Portland are beauties,
both in design and execution, made of the
heaviest French plate glass and finished in
highly polished mahogany. One half of this
side of the store is occupied by the wall paper
department. of which the firm carries an i'm
mense stock, and in every variety. The south
erly andwesterly lights obtained from the win
dows give the very best opportunities for
careful and critical selection in this line.
The left hand side of the store is devoted to
the blank books Of the firms manufacture, fol-
lowed by the department of the law publica-
lions of the company, and that devoted to
school books. A capital idea is shown in the
stair case on the left, in the rear, which leads
to gallery on the left side, almost seven feet
from the ceiling, where the surplus STOCK OF
blanks books is kept in bins. The center OF
the store is occupied by show cases devoted to
stationery and fancy goods in all tho latest de-
signs At the end of the centre counter,in the
reas, will be found the cashiers desk, and the
rear of the store will be devoted to the hand
some counting room OF the firm. AT night the
store will be thoroughly lighted by twelve two
light gasaliers from Cleveland & Marston.
The basement is devoted to the wholesale
stock of wall papers and stationery. 1t is
lighter than the old store under the Falmouth
was. 1t possesses a dry, clear atmosphere and
is deprived of all dampness by large doors that
can be opened and shut, in front of the store,
under the pavement (thus admitting or ex-
GLIDING the outer air as desired) and from the
fact that, between the cement and wooden
floors an air streak ia left. The front half OF
the basement will be devoted to the sample
room; great convenience, especially during
the holiday trade. At the rear are the en-
frances for shipping goods, and the elevator,
which is run BY Sebago The whole building
is heated by steam.
The third floor is devoted to Surplus stock,
and the fourth is the book-bindery, where the
splendid blank-books manufactured by the
frm-none better in the country-go through
the various processes. 1t is quite interesting
to notice tho ruling, cutting, stamping ana
paging machines, all of which are exceedingly
expressive. So popular are their blank-books
that every season their old customers send
regularly for new sets. The paper used by the
firm is manufactured expressly for them and
bears their name on the water-mark. This
floor is divided into three compartments. The
view from the windows is superb, and COM
mands the harbor, the islands, Cape Elizabeth
and Deering, besides the whole city. There
are call-bells, whistles, dumb-waiters and
water conveniences, all over the building.
Messrs. Loring, Short & Harmon commend
ed retail business November 2, 1868, in the
store under the Falmouth Hotel. They then
had two clerks in their employ. By strict at
tention to business, combined with the capacity
of each member of the firm, they have built up
one of the most solid and reliable houses in the
state, and for this they deserve the highest
credit They now employ in their store and
ank.book-manufactory 26 hands, and their
trade extends through Maine, New Hamshire,
Vermont and parts of Canada.