Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-12-18
Carpets and Draperies.

Saith 4 sanford. exclusive dealers,
No. oo Monroe street.
A quarter OF century ago the man
who broke away from the growing ideA
OF ceutEallzst.0n IN trade and cstao-
Issoed a business dealing exclusively Ia
one line % goods, Mas looked upon 40
lacking in business sagAelty. But those
who weIe the pioneers IN the venture
had not read the Ggns OF the times
wrong. The people approved OF the
idea. and the movement soon found
IT, Nay 10 the west. Among the first IN
Michigan TO give this benefit we're Nor
gan 4 Avery, who. IN ls-s,. established
in Grand Rapids an exclusive carpet
and drapery house. The business grew
and throye-
In the latter part OF 1888 John l..
Smith and Isaac Sanford left the en-
ploy of the great CARPET establishment
of W. Il j. sloane of New York, where
for years they had devoted themselves
20 . mssteryof the science Of thar bus
mess and came west looking Tor ioca-
ton. They came To Grand Rapids.
liked the city and determined to re-
man. Negotiations were At once be-
gun for the purchase OF the business
snd good viii OF Morgan Il Avery; =
price was set. the money paid. and the
business passed 10 the new owners. As
soon a. possession was gwen to the new
owners they began extensive alterations
and improvements and IN o short time
had transformed the establishment into
one Of the leading exclusive carpet
and drapery houses IN the west, with
unquestionzbiy the finest, best lighted
and most commodious showroom for
carpets and tapestries IN the United
States. The grand showroom 10 50xlO0
feet with 2f-foot ceiling. and without
any obstruction, lgnted front and
rear with very large windows, which
enable purchasers to inspect the goods
under tho best advantage. THIS room
was formerly the only opera house IN
Grand Rzpids and was known IS Luce's
hail. where nave appeared the divine
loon, the elder Keen. Joe Jefferson
and George l.. Fox. the beuefactor to
all mankind. Ali these at various
times made the walls now decorated
with beautiful Persian rugs aud tapes
tries ring with, the thunder and
storm OF their voices, reinforced by the
applause of delighted auditors. This
hall now constitutes the third floor of
Smith Il sanford's establishment, and
contains thousands of yards of the
finest and most beautiful carpets that
the worlds markets afford.
The fret floor 10 devoted almost exclu-
siveIy to- drsperies. tho rear part being
occupied by the offices of the firm.
The second floor contains an immense
and constantly changing stock of
cheaper grades of carpets.
OF from the third floor. and over
No. So Monroe street. the firm have
two rooms about 24xl00 feet, which are
used exclusively for matching and
making up carpets. rugs, etc. They
employ quite large force in these
rooms, aud carpets are constantly un-
dergoing the various stages If compile
ton. A special feature IN the big show
room Is . suspended gallery used for
exhibiting the latest effects IN mating.
A comfortable passenger elevator
carried the writer down into the base
msnt. where the tirm keeps tons of oil
cloths and Enoleums IN all the new and
stylish designs, showing the beautiful
effects OF the Turkish and Italian tile
ing. IL IL from this room that the
firm do ali of their Shipping, and IL IS
indeed busy place.
Both at the prcpretors are natives
OF New York. Thew have resided in
Grand Rapids but three and q half
years. but they are here q STAY and
sscontinue TO do business at the old
stand" BY prompt and correct meth
ods they have won meed of victory
seldom accorded to men in decade
of business. They are dessrvedly pop
ular. and closely identified with every
undertaking for the betterment OF
Grand Rapids. IL IL to such men tina,
the city owes its present advanced 20
sltioD. and The HERALD finds pleasur.
able pride in presenting them IN this
its memorial souvenir edition.