The Portland daily press., 1895-02-16
A MAGNIFICENT STORE.
Hooper, Son & Leight0n's New Fur
nisIing Establishment.

Probably the Strongest Ii uilding in the
City-TilIed With an Enormous and
Most Elaborate Stock-The Formal
Opening to Take Place Today.
Messrs. Hooper, Son and Leighton form
one of the oldest and most reliable furni-
ture houses in the city. For years their
great store at the corner OF Fearl and Con-
gress streets has drawn an immense custom
from our citizens. including not only those
with long purses, but the great mass of
people with small means. People have come
| to know that when the firm offered them
| anything in the furnishing line they were
getting it at the lowest possible terms. and
that there was no deviation from this rule.
After the death of the late Philip Il.
Brown it was decided by the Brown estate
to make the building to be erected on Con-
gress and Centre streets memorial bullo-
ing. and to spare no money or architectural
skill in the erection of such building a
pride TO the city. and marvel OF con-
venience for its occupants. This they nave
succeeded in doing, and Mr.. Fassett may we'll
be proud of his work as well as the different
firms who had TO do with its construction
and fitting. The building was arranged ex-
pressly for Hooper, Son and Leighton s
business. and the result is really surprising.
The building is five stories W it'll basement
constructed of grayish stone. with light
trimmings. 1t is extremely light. airy and
graceful in appearance. 1t covers little
over So. UO0 square feet of space. which is
almost equally divided between the Con-
gress street and Centre street portions, is
heated throughout by steam, has hard wood
floors and iron Orders.
The building is SO strong that a pair of
large powerful horses drew one OF Port
lands jiggers load ed with five tons of iron
on to the first :ioor, and not tIemor of the
great edifice could be noticed. The great
numbers of large plate glass windows that
surround every floor make the centre of
eac b floor of the building as light as n
parlor, and with the exception of the base
ment-and there only after five O'Clock in
the afternoon, is it necessary TO turn on
artificial light. This enables purchasers to
see the goods under the daylight. The
Belknap Motor Co. furnishes the power for
the two large and powerful elevators that
run from basement to the fifth floor auto
matically, and so delicate is the arrange
ment that even if there is no one in the
elevators they will ascend and descend
without causing jar. The chandeliers in
the building are arranged SO that half of
the lights in each are gas and the other half
electric, SO if any accident should happen
to the electric current the gas can be turned
on, There are eight hundred electric and
gas lights in all.
The basement of the building is devoted
to kitchen furnishings, stoves, ranges re-
frigerators. etc. The first floor to the
| offices-of which there are three large ones
| supplied with every convenience and pro-
vided with open fire places-to fine furnf-
ture including the most elaborate and
elegant line of brass beds in this part of the
country. draperies, cut glass. China and
silver ware both sterling and plated. There
are 100000 worth of draperies alone. In
large cabinet, velvet lined, placed about
this floor are beautiful silver from the usual
ware to odd designs, and all the various
| brands of celebrated China ware. and cut
glass dazzling in its prismatic refieotors.
| Great broad stairways. with broad
| banisters after the colonial style, and
| spacious landings. lead to the upper stories.
| On the sec nd floor in the carpet room, with
| Administers, Wiltons, in fact every kind
known to the trade, from the cheapest to
the most expensive, and also most be-
wilde1ing display Eof fine parlor furniture.
| Your reflection is flashed from hundreds of
| Venetian. and full length plate glass
mirrors. and every style and color in rich
upholstery is disclosed to view. The third
| story is devoted to dining room furniture,
and O medium grade of parlor and chamber
furniture. On the fourth floor is the rattan
furniture of every kind. Library tables,
hall stands and folding beds. On the fifth
story can be found office furniture in every
design and wood, roll top desks, baby
carriages, and the manufacturing depart
ment of the firm, for here they make
carpets and do upholstering work.
This in brief gives some idea of the enor-
nous and valuable stock that this firm
carries. But words give little idea. of its
vastness and character. 1t is only personal
inspec ton that can do that, and today the
public is invited to visit the store and look
it over. We venture the prediction that the
public opinion will be one of delightful sur
| prise.
| There is one thing that every one should
bear in mind for it is important. Every
article bears its price, which the shopper
can see for himself or herself in good plair
figures, SO it can be seen that there is not one
price for an article for one person and an
| other price for the same article for another
On the first floor very handsome re
ception room has been arranged. The dis
play windows ON both the fist and sceont
floors, two in the first and three on thu
second, floors. two on the first and three OF
the second. are probably as well arranged
and will make as attractive an appearance
as any in New England. They were Lighted
by a new arrangement similar to that in u.s.
by Jordan, Marsh & Co., and r. Fl. White
Co., Boston, the refectors throwing IN in
tense light on the goods displayed. Th'
handsome gilt sign of the firm is novel ant
pleasing.
Messrs. Hooper Son and leighton will
have the best wishes of the public for thei
future in their new home.
Eucalyptol Cream cures chapped hands
CAPE ELIZABETH.