Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-03-31
NEW STORE OPENED
Thousands Visit New Quarters of
w. j. Donelan g. Co.
ST. LOUIS STORES SPRING OPENING
Interested Thronss View the Elegant
Display of Dry Goods, Millinery,
Shoes, Carpets and Mems Furnishing
Goods-An Unqualified Success.


Goods-An Unqualified Success.
With an attendance that is estimat-
ed variously from 5000 to 1000 PEG.
pie, and in veritable blaze of beau.
ty, the new st. Louis store, enlarged,
re-titted and stocked with the finest
line of goods obtainable, was Friday
and Friday evening thrown open to
the public for the anual grand spring
opening. In point of numbers and the
splendid impression made upon the
visitors, this affair is pronounced the
most successful of it's kind in the com
mercial history of the city. This was
an unusual occasion, inasmuch as it |
denotes the occupation of the largest
quarters Mr.. Donelan has had since
his coming to Ottumwa several years
ago, and is as well his annual grand
spring opening. Three floors, each
with frontage of 10 feet and depth
of 125 feet, are used by the firm, the
first two as sales rooms and the third
as stock room
business establishment that would
be a credit to cities much larger than
Ottumwa, retail store that affords
the people of the community an oppor-
tunity to select with as much care and
exercise as much taste and
choice as they could sum-
mon in the largest emporiums of
the country thoroughly modern and
up-to date dry goods. millinery, mems
furnishing, shoe and carpet store, is
what Mr.. Donelan and his able corps of
clerks opened yesterday for the in
spection of the people of Ottumwa.
Throughout the afternoon and until
late in the evning the new st. Louis
store was visited by thousands of men
and women, who thronged the aisles
and filled every available nook and
corner, examining with interest and
enthusiasm the splendid stock of
goods that was opened for the careful
inspection of the discerning shoppers
of Ottumwa and the surrounding ter
ritory
The springtime, of all times is the
season when the mind of the American
woman is filled with thoughts of new
frocks, new hats and new furnishings
for the home, and the few weeks be-
fore Easter mark the height OF enthu-
siasm along these lines. The most
particular and the most peculiar taste
could be exactly suited by the splendid
display that met the eyes of the
throngs at the ST. Louis store yester-
day and last evening. The newest
cloths, the latest blends, the prettiest
patterns, the illustrations of the most
valuable ideas in the arts that make
glad the buyer of dress goods, MILL
rnr he 1,sss1>
this popular store, We're displayed In
profusion.
The Windows.
The store was crowded throughout
the afternoon, but in the evening the
throngs were the largest The doors
were closed from until o'clock, and
before the evening opening hours hun.
dreds OF people were waiting at the
front entrance for admission. Mean
while they devoted their time to an
inspection of the elegantly decorated
windows, which served as an index to
the splendid stock to be found inside
the store. To the west of the en-
trance the first display that met the
eye was that of suits and skirts, and
here were shown the latest patterns
in the newest cloths, including eta
mines and voiles, trimmed beautifully
in laces of the newest styles.
Next adjoining the suit and skirt
display was the showing of spring
millinery. Here the women were priv
LEGGED to see the latest styles from
New York and Paris, the result of
careful selection in the principal mar
kets of the country. The next apart
ment. where the silks and shirt waists
in silk and lace were shown, was also
great attraction. The present sea
sons styles in shirt waists are many
and original. and the st. Louis Store
has large line of the latest varieties,
including real handmade antique lace
over taffeta silks. The apartment
farthest west contains a display of
imported wash fabrics in new colors
and combinations, artistic and dainty
creations for the spring and summer.
East of the door the biggest attrac-
tion was the first apartment, where
the new dress goods, including voiles,
Examines, and faxed mistrals, were
shown. Adjoining these was the shoe
display, where the latest styles and
newest lasts were prepared for in
spection. The next to be seen was
the display of mems furnishing goods,
including neckwear, underwear, col
lars, cuffs, etc.
The First Floor.
When the doors were opened at s
o'clock the throngs of visitors began
to pour into the store and in few min
utes, even with the preparations that
had been made to handle the crowds,
the large rooms were filled to the over
flowing. Music was dispensed through
out the evening by the Fifty-fourth
regimental orchestra. The scene on
entering the store was indeed pleas
ing one. The blaze from scores of
electric lights flashed through the
house, revealing to the visitors gaze
the profusion of colors and beauty Of
the decorations.
The first floor is divided into three
main aisles. On the right of the en-
trance is the department of mems fur
nishings and shoes. Here the newest
lines of mems wearing apparel are to
be found, and in the shoe department
| tho firm handles amono other linac