The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-08-28


the war. According To traditions a
good many things took place before
Then and some OF them were wonderful
no doubt. but the oldest inhabltant
would have a hard time matching up
tomething with the immense product
hf the garment makers and supplyers
for the people since the providing Of
clothing for Uncle Sans soldiers in the
War OF the Rebellion gave the first
stimulus to the since stupendOus
growth of this particular business.
Providence early took the lead in
mis- trade as IL naturally should being
center for the manufacture of the
goods necessary for the business Hun
treds OF men and women can remember
when there wasn't ready made
clothing store on Westminster street.
That was less than 40 years Ago Now
'ook at the mammoth establishments
on that great city artery many of
them occupying whole buildings and
carrying stocks valued from 800 900 TO
100000 in the finest OF garments. and
Wearing apparel for all kinds OF per-
sons Tie rich the poor, the well-to-do
and the impecunious can find something
10 suit their fancy and their pocket
books.
The little boxes OF stores that used
to clothe a certain few of the city's
population with I'll fitting and poorly
made garments have been supplanted
by such big stores as those occupied
by the j. h. B@Inaby Company, Brown
ing, King 81 Co, Jerome Kennedy &
Co. Besse. Middlebrook & Co.. Boston
81 Providence Clothing Co, Lucian A.
Kimball. Kavanagh & Co, Blake &
Merchant Macullar Parker Company,
and manv others
IL Is comparatively short time ago
that all the clothing stores were locat-
ed on upper South Main street, North
Main street. (Cheapside) and Canal
street. Many of the dealers were He
brews and a considerable part of their
trade came from the large number of
sailors that used to frequent this port
when shipping was "A good deal more
important than II is at the present
time.
They used 10 resort TO all sorts Of
tricks TO sell their stock i'm trade. and
ii was considered bad sign to let the
nrst customer on Monday morning es-
cape from their stores without selling
him something. They would offer trous-
ers for 50 that can be bought at the
present time for 81 or less. II the Gus
toner could not pay the price asked
at first he had an opportunity to pur
chase for 81, and IL that was not sat-
tstactory. SO would be taken. The Gus
toner would not be allowed to go away
empty handed. IL the s. garment finally
went 10 the man for 81 or less.
BEGIN THE WEEK WELL.
The sale at almost any price was
considered a good beginning on blue
Monday, and il was a sign OF good luck
for the balance OF the week. Among !
the South Main street dealers in those
days was Julius Shuman, who has |
since become one of the largest dealers
in Pawtucket. Lewis Lewiston was an
other. and he carried on about the
largest trade i'm the city just previous
to and following the war;
nYa 90 &c oil arlyo A ..,,1l
at the present time he Is a millionaire
clothing dealer In the city of Boston
He is probably as wealthy a clothier as
there is east of New York. When he
was a clerk in the South Main street
establishment. which would be hardly
worth considering i'm comparison with
even the second class establishments
of to-day. his wages were about 81 n
week. Now he owns one of the largest
and most centrally located blocks in
the heart Of Boston.
All along North Main street there !
were shops for the sale of ready made |
garments but the trade was confined J
TO n certain class OF individuals. IL !
was not considered the proper thing
to appear In ready made clothing of any l
sort outside Of overalls in those days.
For this reason the city had its +.
share Of places for the making OF i
clothing TO order. Talors had their
own little circle OF friends and custom l
ClS. ana tneN kept tnefn DuSy most OF / '
the time for the tailors We're not only .
proprietors of the little establishments, q
but they were tourneymen tailors and ;
made most Of their garments them
selves. Y
The elder KimbaIl. father Of the kim
ball who now occupies the large estab- /
lshment on Washington Row, and j. ;
y. Barnaby. perhaps the real pioneer y
I'm the business as IL is conducted to- v
day. gave the first hint OF the possibili- u
ties Of the ready made clothing trade. O
The first inclination to leave the East q
side" was made manifest when Kim %
ball forsook Canal street and moved on W
Go Washington Row. IL was considered ~
a bad move. but the wisdom OF the y
change soon became apparent and the l.
dealers began 10 desert their !,
old stamping grounds ~
ONLY the poorer class OF dealers stuck
TO the two Main streets. 1t was not ~
long before Washington Row became -
ms great q place for the clothing deal ~
rrs as Is the space from the Arcade TO | !.
street now. To be sure, the o,
stores were NOT as large, but there were y.
a good many of them. ~
EARLY SETTLERS IN THE ROW. al
Among the list was Kimbal e Sons. 70
Prescott e. Co. George Wright Willard Ia
Nalling. Westcott Handy, Mowry a n,
Robbins. and Abram stern were all to- "
,ethcr on the Row from 1857 To 1867, ct
md some Of them long after. II was a
egular hive OF clothiers. M
But the clothing was vastly different M
rom the kind offered to the public at al
he present time. Buyers to-day would IN
Tot give the best OF the old time pro- m
Iuct second lool; III ~ could be placed IN
'cside the OUTPUT of the garment manu- W,
acturers of the present.
Nevertheless the dealers made money Y,
nd they made II fas; just following ga
ne war When work was plenty and To-
zone. nush. Many ~ the dealers men "a
ioned made comfortable fortunes and So
etired. but there are a few OF them left al,
o tell about tho clothing business ON ! 81,