Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-09-24
A GREAT SUCCESS
GRAND OPENING OF REMoDELED
STORE OF S. c. CULLEN G. co.
LAST EVENING.
Thousands Attend Event and are
Charmed With Beautiful Interior
Decorations Were Lavish Through
out-Music During Evening.
From Wednesdays Daily.

pioh wednesday, s Dally.
The grand opening of the newly re-
modelled store of S. G. Cullen G Co.,
last evening was one of the artistic
successes of the season. Thousands
OF people visited the store during the
evening and admired the sumptuous
decorations which greeted the eye on
every hand, being entertained mean
while with music by Schwabkey's or
chestra, stationed on a balcony at the
rear of the store. Not only was the
entire store decorated charmingly with
smilax and potted ferns but a color
scheme OF white and green was carried
out with striking effect all through
the building.
A charmed throng was ushered in
when the doors were opened shortly
after 1880 o'clock. The store was
ablaze with light showing off to good
advantage the charming decorations.
New furniture had been provided in
all departments and this added in
heightening the charming effect.
Aisles Decorated.
There are three main aisles in the
store, all of them of sufficient width
for the accommodation and convent
ence of large crowds. The west aisle
Is devoted to furs, cloaks, suits, mus
lin underwear, etc. A pretty display
was seen here. Ferns in hanging bas-
kets, festooned in southern smilaX
were suspended in the aisles. Green
house palms were seen in profu-
sion. The ledge above the suit cases
was decorated with lace curtain cano-
pies, the smilax forming fitting
background.
The Departments.
AS one entered the store, on
the right of the center aisle was the
dress goods, silks and black goods,
and on the left of the same aisle
were the trimmings, embroideries,
laces and hosiery departments.
On the right side of the west aisle
are the elaborate suit and fur cases
and on the left are the muslin under
wear and corsets.
To the right in the east aisle is an
exceptionally large and rich stock of
knit underwear, and on the left side
the linens, domestics and blanket de-
partments are in the order named.
I'm the front of the store in hand
some glass cases, ribbons, gloves,
neckwear, fans, etc, was seen. The
white and green effects formed by the
ceiling and wall decorations was
heightened by the artificial adornment
of the lodges around the outer walls
and between the aisles.
The Windows.
The large new windows were charm
ingly decorated. In the east window,
cloaks, suits and furs. including seals,
Persian lambs and offers were shown.
The brilliantly lighted windows with
background of white and green most
effectively set off the decorations. In
the west window were shown evening
silks and trimmings over handsome
ly draped figures The event was a
great success and the thousands in
attendance were charmed with the
beautiful adornment Of the store.
Pete Newerf, whose services as
trimmer have lately been secured by
the Cullen firm, has charge of the
decorations. Mr.. Newerf has intro
duced plan of decoration never be-
fore seen in the city, his work show
ing a striking individuality, and he
was the recipient of many compli-
ments last evening.