Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-11-26
IN THEIR OLD PLACE AGAIN.
The Firm of Gait q Bro. Take Possession
OF Their Remodeicd Store Building.


The Firm of Gait BRO. Take Possession
Of Their Remodeicd Store Building.
Today the firm Of Gait 4 Bro. the well-kpown
avenue jewelers., returned to the old place of
business, llo7 Pennsylvania avenue, which dur
ing the past summer has been practically re-
built. Their many friends as well as the public
generally had an opportunity to see the hand
some Improvements and to admire the beauti-
ful display which the new and choice stock of
goods make in the midst OF the artistic sur
rounding which the good taste and enterprise
Of this firm has provided
Early in the summer the workmen took pos
session OF the building, the firm temporarily
occupying quarters at the corner Of pennsyl-
vania avenue and 18th street During those
months the work has been pushed forward as
rapidly rs WAS consistent with good results, and
the verdict pronounced today by the visitors
who thronged the sales rooms were Of such a
character rs 70 justify the expenditure Of
all the time and money required to produce
an establishment So compleVe in all its equip
ments and so well suited for modern business
needs. With the exception of the four walls
the building lie entirely new. The front is Of
stone and iron and on each side of the main
entrance are the show windows, resplendent
WITH plate glass. rich setting for the treasures
OF the goldsmi:hs art. which lay sparkling and
cleaning on their cushions Of velvet.
HANDSOME SHOW ROOM
The show room on the first floor sweeps
back through the entire depth of the building.
The hoor, OF polished oak. is covered with rich
oriental rugs, and on each side are the show
cases, made OF rose wood filed in with
polished plate glass. The wall cases are
made OF walnut and have sliding plate glass
doors. The walls are tinted with a har-
monizing shade. and the frieze and cove Of the
ceiling shows pleasing design in plastic work
The stock which fills the show cases in this and
In the sales rooms on the upper floors is new
and fresh. and represents the best products of
the art to be found in the markets Of the
world.
cellar extends under the building and there
the heating apparatus is located. The floor
resting on iron ioists, filed in with brick
arches, isa type of the substantial freproof
construction which prevails throughout the en-
tire building.
BURGLARS pEPrEp.
II Is not only fire proof, but Is burglar proof as
we'll Perhaps there is no building in the city
that has such a complete equipment OF cleo
trical devices as this building The elevator is
run by electricity, the fine gilt gold chandeliers,
which were made especially for tbs firm and then
the dyes destroyed have electric lamps and the
GROWING triumph of the entire system is the ar
rangement by which every door every window,
general office of the company supplying such
service. Even the walls of the building carry
these wires, so that il will be impossible TO pen
citrate them tsuy point without giving an alarm
Even If an entrance be gained 20 the building
the opening OF any door or any case would at
once be slgnaled TO the Office. All tina, the
hrn needs to do at night is to turn loose its
MISUNDERSTANDING, Waterman that never
sieeps-with entire confidence tina, the store and
its precious contents Is safe from a harm,
whether fire or burglars threaten.
This modern building is the business home of
house which has longer business record
than any leweiry house in the country.
HOW THE FIRM WAS FOUNDED.
In tho latter part of the century youth. the
son of western Maryland farmer. was sent to
relation of the family then doing business in
the city OF Baltimore to be taught for a con-
sideratiou, as was the custom, the art and
science CO Matchmaking" This young man
was James Gait. who on arriving at maturity.
which was in the year 1900, the same wear the
District of Columbia became the seat of gov
eminent. and. just starting in life, decided TO
make the capital Of the nation his future home
At that time the "city of Washington being
almost barren waste. he came TO
Georgetown, where he remained a short
time. and in the year 1s01-2 he went to
Alexandria, then a thriving place and part
OF the District of Columbia. He established the
business which has been handed down from
father TO sons without INTERRUPTION for nearly
a century. tits doubted whether there is bust
ness house, certainly there is not jewelry house
In this country with such a record In the
year 1925. Washington having already begun TO
show signs of that importance which il has now
attained. Mr. Gait removed his business to this
city. At his death, which occurred in isi7. he
was succeeded by his sons, Messrs. NJ ".
Gait and William Gait. The latter some wears
ago retired, leaving Mr.. NJ. W. Gait. the role
possessor OF the business until some months
ago, whom il became the property OF the sons of
MIR. NJ. W. Gait under the firm name of Gait q
Brother. 1t is this firm which today re-entered
their improved aud beautified building