The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-12-11

Inc opening OF the new ana mann
moth department store of Jonas Long s
Sons was awaited with a great deal of
interest for weeks, and last night the
event occurred. At Z o'clock the doors
were opened and constant streams of
people passed in and out of the Lacka-
wanna and Wyoming avenue entrances
for several hours. It was estimated
that over 10000 persons inspected the
big establishment.
A special train of eight cars brought
3l5 clerks of the firms Wilkes Barre
store to Scranton and there were in ad-
| dition as many visitors from the latter
city. No goods were sold during the
| evening, although this morning the
store will be opened for business.
A unique feature in connection with
the opening and one immensely en-
joyed by the seventy or more persons
privileged to participate in it, was the
| inspection of the place by the news
paper men of all the towns from Car
bOndale to WilkesB Barre and the eX-
cellently prepared wine dinner that was
served for them in the stores restau-
rant. The large party began its in
spection on the fourth, or upper floor,
about $50 o'clock. The six members of
the firm combined the offices of guides
| and hosts.
When the basement was reached soon
after 6 o'clock, tables were found ar
| ranged in square banquet form and
| he discussion of the dinner began.
Tie menu included blue points, celery,
olives, quail, saratoga chips, chicken
salad, confectionery, coffee and
Mumm's. This event was of a ban
| quet nature and was under the presid-
| ing offices of Charles j. Long, the senior
of the six brothers.
GIFT FROM EMPLOYEES.
| The company had not been long
| seated when a clerk appeared bearing
an immense floral anchor. the firms
| insignia, on a floral base. Roses large
| ly composed the elaborate design. j.
/ c. Hawthorne, superintendent of the
| Wilkes Barre store, presented the piece
| to the firm on behalf of the Wilkes
| Barre clerks, and Charles j. Long for
| the firm acknowledged the token.
! After the meal had been finished
| there was a period of speech-making,
! during which c. Ben Johnson, DR.. f.
! c. Johnson, of the Wilkes Barre Rec
ord: b. II. Pratt, of the Truth; r. NJ
! Scranton, of the Republican; LiVy S.
| Richard of The Tribune: j. T. Rich
ards, an executor Of the Handley es-
tate. which owns the building, and Ar
chitect l.. c. Holden, who planned It,
| congratulated Scranton and the Longs
on venture of magnitude which would
! prove of mutual advantage, Toasts
were drunk to the firm, the architect
| the builder. Conrad Schroeder; the
| gay old boy" John Benore, and the
| Handley executors. \ flash-light pho
| tOgraph of the company ended the af-
! fair.
The doors We're opened TO the public
| about the time the dinner was ended
and in a few moments hundreds of per
sons We're on each of the five floors
| ana admiring the modern arrange
| ments and extensive stock of goods
| Bauer's band was located on the Sec
! ond floor and played during the even
| ing. the open areaway from the lower
! floor to the roof permitting a spread
| of the sound to every floor
What goods the store contains and
how they are displayed will be ascer-
taned by Scrantonians through person
| al visits, but The Tribune considers II
! not amisS TO present some facts abOu;
| the firm and the building and its ar
rangements. The six Long brothers
| or, Jonas Longs sons. as they are bet
| ter known. are. in the order of SEN
! iority: Charles j., Bernard, Louis
| Arthur, Edward and Harry. Their
! father was probably the most success
! full and one of the most highly
| respected retail merchants in the
! Lackawanna, Wyoming and Lehigh
| valleys and his foresight, business
| sagacity and strict integrity, qualili-
| cations which any successful man
must possess, have been inherited by
| his sons. Theirs has for years been
| the largest department store in Wilkes
| Barre. The opportunity was Offered
| them to acquire a long-term lease on a
| building to be erected by the Handley
| executors in a larger and growing city
| and they did not hesitate to make
| the venture,