Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1888-09-08
BRILLIANT OPENING.
Messrs. Crosby q nm Formally open
Their Beautiful New store Rewarding
Faithful Clerks.

Messrs. Crosby y nm Formally open
Their Beautiful New store forwarding
Faithful Clerks.
When the doors of Crosby & Hills ne
store were opened at z 30 o'clock last
night, large crowd of people were wait
ing admittance. The crowd increased
until the large and spacious store was
packed with people From the time the
doors were opened until after 8 o'clock a
continuous stream entered, passed slowly
around the store looking as the magnif
cent new stock of goods displayed on
counters and shelves, and went out.
Thousands Of people visited the store
during the evening They pack
ed the aisles so that IL was
nearly impossible to move along.
They peered into the cloak rooms ex-
plored the cellar. climbed the stairs to
the gallery and lined the railing looking
down on the packed mass Of people on
the main floor. The cloak room made a
coy rendezvous for friends to meet and
chat awhile
Messrs Crosby and Hin were busy all
the evening receiving the congratulations
Of their friends. The clerks stood smil-
ing behind the counters, proud of the fine
store and Of the success Of the firm. An
orchestra of eight pieces from the First
Regiment Band was stationed in the gal-
lery and played selections of music during
the evening A horse shoe of choice
flowers stood on the book keepers desk
at the rear of the store. This was pre-
sented 20 the firm by II S. Turner, rep
resentng Young, Smith, Field & Co Of
Phila lelphia
The store is well stocked. every shelf
hIfra full 4. Il. = 4
filled with surplus stock. The store was
decorated with beautiful display of
handkerchiefs. Handsome table covers
and portieres were hung over the gallery
railing giving an oriental appearance to
that part of the store A fine exhibition
of ribbons was displayed on the counters
near the entrance. One Of the
large show windows was dressed
with stockings in all colors The other
was dressed with dress goods. The store
was brilliantly lighted by four arc elec-
trio lights and two more hung over the
sidewalk
Shortly after 8 o'clock the orchestra
played Home. Sweet Home, and the
crowds began to move out by 10 the
doors were closed. About 1880 o'clock
Mr.. Crosby invited the company remain
ing TO the basement, where a long table
was spread with the delicacies of the sea
son. Forty persons sat down TO the
table In addition to the large
corps OF clerks there was William II
/ Foulk, the builder of the new
store, L. X. Springer the architect.
James Monaghan of Philadelphia. rep
resenting Hood, Bonbright & Co. and ii.
/ $. Turner of the same city. of Young,
/ Smith, Field q Co, Mrs w. X. Crosby.
Miss Elsie Heebner and representatives.
Of the press
Mr.. Crosby sat at the head of the table
and Mr.. Hill at the foot among the cash
| boys
While the ice cream was being served.
Mr.. Crosby arose and said that ten years
had passed since he first visited the city
to see what the prospects were for starting
in the dry goods business. He related
the incidents Of their beginning at 220
and 222 Market street, and said much of
their success was due to advertising
After three years they began to look for
a location further up town, but
not until last November did they
succeed in finding a location. After
cOmplimenting Messrs. Foulk and
Springer on the beautiful appearance of
the building, he said that he felt that the
firm Of Crosby & Hill had reached a crisis
in their history, but he trusted that the
change would prove to BE- in every sense
of the word successful They attributed
their success to three reasons First.
their determination to buy and sell mer-
chandise for cash; second, strict attention
to business, and third economical living
both members of the firm having quiet
and inexpensive tastes and habits
He thanked most heartily the many
faithful workers in their employ, and as
an indication Of their appreciation asked
some of them TO accept a slight token
which was cheerfully and heartily
offered, $50 TO each clerk who had been
in the employ five years or more. These
were Messrs. w. S. Morton. w. J.
Martin, Charles Rainey, Misses Clara
Wells. Lizzie Nentze, Annie Balance.
Mary Jones. and Misses Mellon and
kohleman. To each who had been in
the firms employ for two years
and half S2t. These were Messrs.
George Crozier, Louis Carpenter and
Joseph Alexander and Miss Deutze Each
Of the cash boys received dollar and the
senior cash boys two dollars.
Mr. Crosby then offered the following
toasts: The wholesale dry goods trade
Of Philadelphia, may it surpass New
York James Monaghan responded
The wholesale notion trade business Of
Philadelphia, may it not be excelled by
any other II. S. Turner responded
THE new building may it be as useful
and profitable as it is beautiful. To
this Mr.. Foulk responded 1.-THE press
Of Wilmington may it press forward in
the line Of the future as it has in the
past. The response was made by George
w. Roberts Of the Morning News and
The Ladies' to which Mr. Hill re-
sponded in short and happy speech. It
was after midnight before the company
rose from the table.
A TOO PREVIOUS ACTION.