The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1885-07-29
j. C. BREWSTER 4 co.

Not another mercantile interest in
Raleigh shows more marked develop
ment Of late years than does the hard
ware house whose firm style We have
just written. When we realize the
fact that not quite fifteen years have
elapsed since Mr.. ]. G. Brewster be-
gan business here with a capital Of
only s125-that the house then was
confined to a limited retail business
in stoves and tinware--we cannot
help paying its founder and the gen.
tleman now associated with him q
merited compliment on the score of
what has been accomplished.
Mr.. j. C. Brewster is a native Of
Philadelphia but Raleigh has been
his home since 1866. He was a prac.
teal mechanic and obtained employ
men with Heart & Lewis, with
whom he remained FIVE years-then
he began business for himself. ow-
ing to the fact that he was thorough
practical workman he soon found
himself kept very busy with job work
and now he takes the management Of
all outdoor contracts, whether il be
for roofing, for steam heating, gas
fitting or other work Of that kind
In the meantime his partner, Mr.. L.
B. Engelhard, presides over the Office,
the books, the finances, and in the
house he is assisted by a competent
corps Of statesmen, one Of whom, Mr..
]. ii. Porter, has been with the house
ever since il was established. Mr..
Engelbard, we may remark, is q
young man and native Of Raleigh
in 1880, he became one Of the firm
| and this was, We believe, his intro
duction into the mysteries Of the
hardware trade.
JIG. Brewster & Co. control both
a large jobbing and retail trade. Al
Ijobbers they reach out to points 81
far away as Winston, Goldsboro, etc.
Throughout the adjoining counties
in fact, and though some commercia'
travelling is done ut intervals, most o
the jobbing orders come direct TO the
house, and without personal solicit
alton; come because ofthe reputation
gained for keeping full lines and o
selling goods as cheaply rs jobbers in
more pretentious cities can, and at /
saving TO buyers in time and freight
A single glance at the establish
ment will convince any one how vel
prepared II Is 10 meet the wants d
either class Of patrons, and We ma,
add that il is seldom one meets will
a hardware and stove house wher,
the goods are more lastly arranged
The main sales room is 30 feet deeI
BY Is feet wide, and not only all thi
space but a part Of the second floor o
r che building Is used. In addition Il
1 this Is the basement and q large shol
; and warehouse in the rear, S2x2l
feet, two and,a-half floors.
Within these premises are groupet
the countless articles that enter int,
the composition Of q first.class estab
lishment Of the kind, and as We refe
: to the comparisons already made i
this article, we don't wonder that th,
firm take a reasonable degree 0
, PRIDE in the house they would b
more or less than human If they di,
not.
D Though the building operation
. In Raleigh have not been abnormall
active and though decided compel
ton exists in all that relates 10 build
er's hardware and kindred lines q
trade Il Is gratifying to the friends Z
I, the house 10 know that les bushes
! has steadily advanced year by yea
, Its general trade in all department
for 1884 showed some improvement
over that Of the proceeding year an
4 the sales thus far for 1S85show SOM
r thing Of an increase over the CORE
j. ponding months Of last year. All tol
!. the firm employ eleven persons, b
sides the co.partners, and they a
certainly as earnest workers as a
g any Of their employees. They ha,
Il gained popularity for themselves N
q their house both at home and abros
a and they have a right, we thin
: to take a good natured view Of u
~ | f,tfurq.