Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-07-03


 |T/M M: dry goods houses are
 small, tie city is equally so. When the dry goods houses are doing business, the community is prosperous. The first thing a stranger looks for, even the men kind, who presume to know more about dry goods than block houses in the north pole, are the dry goods houses. If the dry goods houses are large and fine look ing, have well dressed windows, the stranger immediately receives good impression of the place.
 The aspect of a city's dry goods bus mess is an index to the condition of the city itself. So in that respect Wat erbury can very well lift up it's head with pride and point to Reid X Hughes as an instance of it's grip on the pros perlty of the times, to its own devel- opment, it's girth and brawn.
 The Reid X Hughes Dry Goods Co is the largest of its kind in the state Inside or out, this store is without comparison. Its large and spacious windows are things of real beauty, even to mere man, who never fails 10 stop and admire them, for they are all ways worth admiration. It's high and lofty ceilings are no whiter that the concerns reputation for square deal ing, and for always having goods worth the price charged. For order, arrangement and display of goods. for general attractiveness, the Reid X Hughes store bears reputation all it's own. The concern owns three other large stores iE Boston. Norwich and Lawrence, Mass, but the local one is said to be the finest of the quartette. On March 18th, 1890, the concern opened it's doors here and the follow ing year it was incorporated. It open ed on the site it at present occupies. but was not as large by one-half. It's employees numbered only twenty or so, now they run into POO. People still re- member the Sunday afternoon some years ago. shortly after the concern began business here. that fire alarm brought the entire fire department of the city around the store. The con 1 fagration was one of the largest and costliest in years. but the building was very soon reopened. though in the in | terval Reid & Hughes still did busi- ness.
 The birth of the firm took place in Norwich. being established by Adam I Reid and George r. Hughes. Gradu- ally it spread out until it had estab- lished stores in the four cities above named, and now it employs about 1,50C hands in the four stores.
 The concerns development in Wat | erbury was rapid. People seemed to at once recognize the virtue of its goods and their consequent claim upon the buying public. It's managers also were eternally on the lookout for av enues of enlargement. The first irs through which 1t passed appeared tC serve only to add to it's vitality. for the new building was better one by far than the old.
 | A like effect was apparent after t!it second conflagration in 1902. Business neighbOrs on either hand were absorb cd in the new building, the present one. Another story was added. Eacf floor was made more attractive fhar ever Hr short it Is said to be one ol the costliest buildings In the city. II Is the largest in the dry goods line | The floor space occupied ny the Reid & Hughes Co. is 5O.O00 square feet On account of the large capacity oi the company they are enabled to buy direct from the manufacturers. domes tic and foreign. and at great advantage to the public. This indelible fact makes | 1t possible for the company to place goods before the public at rate that never fails to attract the buyers. Everything in the line of dry goods bedstcads. millinery. carpets. uphols tery. glass ware. trunks. everything in the dry goods line in It's modern sense. are to be had at low prices ai the Reid X Hughes Co.'S magnificent store.
 A splendid feature about the store is the excellent windows for display both back and front. The basement called a model basement" is said tJ be tue finest in New England for its purposes. Ii contains the largest so,la fountain in the cast. seating capacity of 200. candy department where light lunches are served. besides the departments of cut glass, crockery and house furnishings.