The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-10-19
Big Dry Goods Business to
Change Hands.
Sidney J. Goetter will Leave Mont
gomery and New Concern Will
Occupy His Great Dexter
Avenue Establishment.

Announcement was made yesterday that
on January Sidney ]. Goetter will re-
tire from business in Montgomery and
that the big dry goods store known as
"Goetters" at 20 and % Dexter Avenie
VIII thereafter be conducted by the A.
9. Knowles Dry Goods Company.
The new concern will begin business
with an entirely new stock of goods but
It 10 said that all of the employees of
"0oetter's' will be retained.
Mr.. Goetter will remove from Mont
gonnery to some Eastern city. He says he
has not yet determined upon his future
movements but 1t Is positive that he will
leave Montgomery.
Mr.. Knowles, who will be at the head
Of the A. 3. Knowles Dry Goods Com
pany, is we'll known in Montgomery. He
was for many years Secretary and Treas
urer of THE Fair" which suspended
business about a year ago
For some time it has been rumored in
Montgomery mercantile circles that Mr.
Goetter would retire from business and
that the name "Goetter's' SO long famil-
iar to the Montgomery public would be
no longer connected with the mercantile
Hfe Of the city. Rumor also said that
Mr.. Knowles would acquire the big estab-
fishment on Dexter Avenue.
Unit. yesterday both of these gentlemen
declined to discuss the matter. But yes.
terday the reports were confirmed. M.
Goottar said he would sell his stock ,f
goods as rapidly as possible Mr. Knowles
said his company would be ready to oc-
cupy the place beginning with the new
year.
The new business, that of the A. $.
Knowles Dry Goods Company, will be
managed sol,ly by Mr.. Knowles himself
who seys the scope Of the business will
be increased.
Discussing the matter yesterday,
Mr.. Knowles said the new COM
the Munger Dry Goods
Company Of Kansas City, and the Burn
ham-stolpel Dry Goods Company Of De-
troit, Mich, two of the largest wholesale
dry goods concerns in the United States.
Having the advantage of buying with
these large concerns, Mr.. Knowles said,
his company would he enabled to meet the
sharpsst competition. In addition to
these connections Mr.. Knowles said his
company would handle the product of the
Burnham-Munger Manufacturing Com
pany Of Kansas City, which is a large
manufacturer or mems furnishings, ladies'
shirt waists, wrappers. etc.
with the beginning Of the year" said
Mr.. Knowles. I'VE simply take the lease
and fixtures Of "Goetters." We will put
In an entirely new stock. We will use
the three floors Of the building and will
handle dry goods. shoes. millinery. ladies
and mems furnishings, notions, rugs,
house furnishings, etc"
1t was his impression. Mr.. Knowles said,
that the force of employees now with
"Goetters' would be retained but he pre-
ferred not to discuss this point
Twenty years and more Mr.. Knowles
has been in the dry goods business. He
began his mercantile career in Montgom-
cry with LeGrand & Co., coming here
from Eufaula In 1873. Later he went with
Poliak & Co., and when the latter firm
was merged in to The Fair" Mr..
Knowles became it's secretary and treasu-
rer, continuing in this capacity until the
suspension Of business.
Between now and the beginning of
another year Mr.. Knowles will spend the
greater part Of his time in the Eastern
markets preparing for the opening of The
A. 8. Knowles Dry Goods Company
The passing away OF "Goetters' will
mark an era In the mercantile life OF
Montgomery. The name. Goetter, has
been associated with the mercantile life
Of Montgomery more than thirty years
The father Of Sidney J. Goetter was
Joseph 0oetter, who established the dry
goods business Of Schulman & Goetter on
Court Square before the war between the
States. Later the firm was merged into
Schulman, 0oetter & We'll and in after
years became Goetter. We'll & Co.
This last named firm was for
many years one Of the leading dry
goods establishments in Montgomery. In
October. 1895 Goetter, Well & Co. remov-