The Portland daily press., 1882-04-06
ALLEN g. co.
ESTABLISHED IN THEIR NEW QUAR-
TIERS IN LANCASTER BUILDING.
A Magnificent Store and a Splendid
Stock OF Goods.

elegant and commodious quarters IN the ne"
Lancaster Building. 1t will be remembered
| that Hon. John B. Brown intended thls edi
| fee as the browning effort OF his lie, IN tn'
way of public improvements, and the heir
| have worthily carried out their fathers wishes
| Occupying an imposing situation in Marke
| Square, the very focus of trade, there is nj
| doubt that Allen & Co., who have already at
| tanned celebrity as wholesale and retail cloth
| iers Tor outftters as the English term it, vii
| quadruple their already enormous business
| The firm occupy the lower half of the build
| ing--four stories and basement. The basement
| and first two floors run in the clear, from
| front to rear, broken only by the large Dorit
pillars that support the floors. The third story
| is divided by partitions. The fourth floor vii
| not be used at present. The edihce is CON
structsd as substantially as an experienced
| architect, skilful builders and masons, and the
| best of material can make it, and each story is
80 feet wide and 100 feet deep.
The basement is we'll lighted by patent graf
| ings in the sidewalks, and twelve gas-lights
The front will be used for the surplus retail
stock, and the rear for receiving, shipping and
packing goods The best of water conyen-
fences are placed here, all in modern style,
and the steam, which heats the whole building
thoroughly, is introduced here from building
located in the rear. There is back alley,
with entrance from Centre street, for the
shipping aud reception of goods At the FAR
Their end also is the elevator, run by water one
of Moore & Wyman's best, which can lift two
tons weight The stock carried on this floor is
of the best material, and very extensive in va
riety and quality.
Proceeding from the basement, either by the
lift or a broad fight of stairs, we reach the
first, or ground, floor The show windows are
not only most attractively dressed but they
will bear careful inspection for their beauty.
The upper window is nine feet front by nine
feet deep, and here the clothing, OF the finest
material and most fashionable cut is beauti-
fully arranged. The other window is nine feet
froLt and eleven feet inside measurement and
eight feet deep. Here Mr.. w. G. Allen has
shown the most artistic taste in his arrange
ment of furnishing goods of the richest de-
scription, and superb coloring, all harmonizing
perfectly, and displayed to especial advantage
on the elegant brass rack made specially for
the purpose. The stained imported glass over
the doors and windows is very handsome. and
bears the inscription "AlIen & Co., Outfitters.
Each of the windows is lighted by sixteen gas
jets in ornamental brass fixtures.
The room itself looked particularly light and
cheerful last evening, with its white walls, its
ceiling paneled,-an each panel decorated
with white stucco ornament from which the
gasalier was suspend ed and with its wood
work, all elegantly paneled in ash, except
the doors and windows which are in cherry.
-Four large windows in the rear give light by
day, and twelve handsome gasalers, OF four
lights each, with four bracket lights, the nee
essary Examinations at night. There is also
very handsome post light at the foot of the
grand staircase that leads to the second story,
representing Huguenot soldier bearing four
light lance. There are fifteen forms and six
counters, the counter in front of the entrance
semi-circular in shape. The arrangement
of the splendid stock of goods is eminent
ly metropolitan and catches the eye at once.
All the garments are of stylish cut, made in
the best manner, and of excellent material,
foreign and domestic. This clothing, which
is ready-made, occupies three-quarters of the
floor, and the remainder of the room-in the
rear-is devoted to the custom trade under the
charge of Mr.. Jones, who has the entire super
intendence of the manufacturing department
The custom goods are of the best quality
made on either side of the Atlantic, and cut
aster the most fashionable NODES
On the left If the entrance comes the fur
nshipg department under the charge of Mr..
W. G EnNA The show cases have been made
with great taste and care of plate glass and
rosewood by MfssC. Fl. Blake, and, wita the
three elegant uprfghts-45 inches high above
the counter-deslgl1ed by Mr.. W. G. Allen,
are models of beauty. These cases are filled
with the most exquisite specimens of neck
wear, gloves, hosiery, cuffs and underwear,
as we'll as in the ash shelving in the rear
Three-quarters of the way down the store
there is a break caused by superb mirror 4Ox
60 in size, and the rest of that side of the
store is occupied by the underwear of every
description kept in neat black boxes, with
brass handles, devised by Mr.. Allen Nearly
opposite the mirror is the head hookkeepers-
Mr. E. E. Benson s-spacious office. off of
which is the private room of the firm, and two
convenient dressing rooms.
The. second floor is devoted to the extensive
wholesale business of the firm under the
charge of Mr.. G. G. Allen, who is also the f.
nance manager This room is lighted by
twelve gasaliers, besides the great windows in
front and rear.
The third floor is partitioned off for the cut
tiers, three in number, aud the work-girls en-
al H.,
The fourth floor will be devoted ultimately
to the manufacture of a fine grade of clothing
to be sold in the retail department. on the
first floor.
Messrs. Allen & Co. are to be congratulated
on their fine store and will open to the public
at p. m. to-day.