The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-05-29
A PROSPEROUS HOUSE.
One OF Roanoke's Most Success
full Enterprises.

The development of Roanoke has
been so largely in the direction of indus
tries that the public has generally over
looked the Importance of its commercial
houses as wealth creators and factors in
increasing population. An investiga-
ton by The TIMES led to the discovery
that one single establishment had been
the direct means of increasing the popu-
latiop of Roanoke by the number Of
forty-fve. This concern is the Hobbie
Music Company.
1t moved to Roanoke in August, 1883,
and transferred its Headquarters and
main warerooms to 1877 Salem avenue in
May, 1891. No business among the
many thriving enterprises in Roanoke
has grown more RAPIDLY. 1t now re-
presents an invested capital of $4,000
and pays larger average of salaries
than any concern in Southwest Virginia.
From single wareroom, the Hobbie
Music Company has rapidly expanded
until now it occupies an entire build
ing, part of the adjoining one and floor
in the Terry warehouse on Front street,
besides having the Hobbie Music Hall
adjoining the main store on Salem ave-
nue..
representative of THE TIMES made
a tour CT the establishment yesterday,
escorted by Mr.. j. d. Hobbie, president
and general manager. beginning with
the long storerooms on the second floor,
scores of pianos and organs were stored,
ready for shipment. in huge packing
cases, bearing the names of the most
famous instrument makers in America
In the Hobbie Music Hall the grand
decennial choir is holding its rehearsals
under the skil]ful direction of Prof. p.
c. Leary.
A strong elevator in the rear OF the
building transfers the heavy cases from
one floor to the other. Descending, a
birds eye view is caught Of ono of the
finest displays Of organs and pianosssin
the South. A rear entrance from Front
st cot allows the handling of instru-
ments for shipment and storage without
using the Salem avenue entrance.
large office in the rear with ground
glass windows and flooded with light
from above, is occupied by the sales
men, bookkeepers. cashier and stenog-
rapher. Mr.. Hobbies private Office let's
in upon the main business room from
the rear. 1t is carpeted, finished and
furnished with the same discriminating
taste which pervades the whole estab-
lishment. Here business which
reaches into every town, city and ham
let in radius of ESQ miles receives its
direction and inspiration.
The salesroom is neatness itself The
walls are tastefully papered, and on
lofty brackets are busts OF Haydn,
Mozart, Schubert and other great mu-
sicians of the past. The building is
lighted with gas and electricity. Nu-
merous pianos and organs are echeloned
along the sides of the room. None of
the most famous OF modern instruments
are missing. The upright piano pre-
dominates with several grand pianos,
while the once familiar sqnare plano is
a relic Of the past.
The most fastidious taste will be sat.
isfied with the display. Hero is an
ebony case so glossy that ones face is
reflected as in mirror. Next is ma.
hogany. Not the plain surface which
our grandmothers delighted in, but n
mahogany FURNISHED to the last degree
of finish. An English antique oak sits
next an American quartered oak, and
beyond is one of the most perfect and
beautiful woods which was over put in
u piano case. 1t Is Lircassian walnut.
almost mahogany brown, and with a
burl grain in the natural wood which
de6es imitation.
The Hobbie Music Company has built