Los Angeles herald., 1905-10-18
THOUSANDS SEE
IMPOSING PARADE
FIRST WORK DONE ON GREAT
HAMBURGER STORE
Biggest Retail institution West of CHI
caqo Is Begun With Celebration
In Which Entire Force of
Employees Takes Part

Hamburger Department store a success
during the past twenty years, and
those who will with equal energy and
faithfulness make the Greater Ham
burger Department store one of the
biggest retail institutions in the coun-
try west of Chicago, paraded the prin-
cipal business streets of Los Angeles
yesterday afternoon, finally assembling
on the site of the proposed monument
to the business enterprise of A. aam-
burger & Sons, on the southwest cor
ner of Broadway and Eighth streets,
where the ceremony of beraking ground
for the immense structure was Wit
messed by several thousand employees
friends and patrons of the establish
ment.
The event marked an important epoch
in the history of the firm, as well as in
the history of Los Angeles, for 1T not
only meant the elaborate enlargement
of the facilities of the Hamburger
store but pointed the way to the imme-
diate further expansion of the busi-
ness district of Los Angeles, indicating
to home people and all visitors in a
substantial manner that the great me-
tropolis of Southern California is grow
ing with rapid strides.
Great Day for Hamburger Family
1t was truly great day for the en-
tire Hamburger family and their one
thousand employees. They were very
much in evidence. Nobody was allowed
to walk. Every available automobile,
and it seemed that all of the carriages
and tally-hos in the city were pressed
into service for the parade occasion.
1t took over an hour to seat all men,
bers of the firm and the employees in the
vehicle, and when the procession
moved down Spring street, headed by
a platoon of mounted police and Arend's 8
band, the streets were lined to wit
ness the impressive and significant
spectacle.
The procession extended for dis
tance of twenty blocks, and flags and
banners were displayed from the autos
and carriages to lend color and added
beauty to the parade. Along the route
business friends Of the Hamburgers ap-
peared from the crowded sidewalks to
present floral tokens of good will and
best wishes.
On arriving at the site of the new
building the band played patriotic airs
while the paraders alighted ana
crowded around the speakers stand
where large flag had been hung from
q palm tree.
Seated in the first auto were: NJ. A.
Hamburger, president of A. Hamburger
& Sons: Otto Sweet secretary and
treasurer; w. e. Chamberlain, assist
Hamburger, son of D. A. Hamburger,
and nephew of NJ. A. and S. A. Ham
burger. In the second auto were John
Bulge, general manager; w. N. Bailie,
superintendent; P. B. Coss. assistant
superintendent, and W. G. L. Tucker,
advertising manager, while the COM
mittee of arrangements, H. D. Perry
and F. P. Winnie, were among those
in the third auto.
Master Hamburger Happy
Master Asher Hamburger. who is only
six years of age, and was dressed in "a
Buster Brown suit, was the first to
reach the platform, where he stood
proudly supporting a flag and viewing
the crowd. He was entirely self-pOs-
sessed, but he gave expression to the
thoughts uppermost in his mind when
he remarked: 1--WE were lucky. We got
to ride in the first automobile"
kilograms of congratulations and
best wishes for the great enterprise
were read by Spokesman Perry. The
messages came from D. A. Hamburger,
who is at Portland; S. A. Hamburger,
now in New York, and from the eight
buyers for the firm in New York.
Then came the interesting event of
the day, the breaking of the ground
for the new structure.
The employees of the firm had thought
fully Joined in the purchase of a solid
silver shovel to be used by the presi-
dent. 1t is engraved with these words:
TO A. Hamburger & Sons, Gnc
commemorating the turning of the first
sod of California's greatest store from
their employees. October II, 1905"
Mr.. Chamberlain Speaks
w. E. Chamberlain was chosen to
present the shovel, which duty he per-
formed in a graceful manner. He re-
viewed the history of the firm from
the date of it's establishment, October
II, 1881, by Asher Hamburger. who
came here with his two sons from Sac
ramento. In closing Mr.. Chamberlain
said:
Compare, if you can, the little room
on Main street where our firm COM
r1enced business twenty-four years ago
and which occupied a space much less
than single aisle in this new building
with the magnificent proportions of this
new structure which will cover moro
than four hundred thousand square
feet, peopled with a thousand willing
loyal helpers, then think of the pos
slbllities before us and the results we
should strive for. We hope and be-
lieve that this building will be carried
to completion speedily and successfully.
and be so equipped that we may be as
proud of our new location as we have
been Of the place which we have occu-
pied in the mercantile world in the
past. We trust that no action on our
part may ever mar the good fellowship
and prosperity which attends us, and
that for many years to come we NAV
celebrate together this happy anniver-
sary.
"To you, Mr.. Hamburger, as presi-
dent and representative of your firm.
we extend hearty congratulation on
your past success, and the achievement
of your highest ambition to establish a
business worthy to bear the name of
your beloved and respected father, and
we ask you to accept this shovel as
a token of our appreciation and loTalty,
and with it begin the work which is to
end IN the completion of a monument
representative of the labor, energy and
business discretion which has charac-
terized your firm since its establishment
In Los Angeles twenty-four years ago."
Mr.. Hamburger Much Affected
On receiving the shovel President
Hamburger was manifestly deeply af-
fected, and he asked the indulgence of
his hearers until he could "catch his
h L.