Casco Bay breeze. [volume] (South Harpswell, Me.) 1901-1917, 1906-07-12
CoaIpLErEsr BUSINESS BUILDING
Features OF w. L. Douglas Admins.
tration ard Jobbing House,


Features OF w. l.. Douglas, Admins.
tration a"d Jobbing House,
The dedication Of the new admins.
frat:on and jobbinS house building
erected ut Brockton. Mass. by the w.
l.. Douglas Shoe Co. rs a part of i,s
mammoth manufacturing plant mt Mon
teilo was marked by the thorou:hness
and attention to detail characteristic
OF the firm In all its undertakings.
AS the new building Is said to be the
most complete and convenient of any
ever built for commercial house I'm
the United States, SO were the express
sions OF appreciation by the many per.
sons who visited 1t for inspection sin.
cere and OF highly congratulatory
nature.
The dedicatory program included
open house from IL a. m to 8 d. m.
with concert BY the Mace Gay orches-
ira and the presence Of a Boston
caterer to attend to the wishes of all.
The building Itself afforded a feast for
the eye. especially the offices, which
are marvels In many ways. Fifteen
thousand Invitations were sent out. in.
Guiding over 1900 to the retail dealers
In the United States, who handle the
w. l. Douglas Co. shoes. the Others
going to shoe manufacturers and all
allied industries In Rrockton and vi.
cinity. MIR. Douglas will be glad to
nave anybody who Is interested call
The new building Is situated Just
north or the No. I factory on Spark
street, facing the Montello railroad
station. Its completion marks the es.
adjustment Of q modern up-to-date
wholesale Jobbing house and Office
building. Mr.. Douglas has long con.
'sidered the advisabilty Of a tobbing
mousse. not only for the purpose of sup
plying his own retail stores more read.
lily, but that the IL 900 dealers through.
out the United States handling the w.
L. Douglas shoe might be able to OBJ.
tain shoes for Immediate use with
greater facility.
Under the present system all shoes
are manufactured to order. and Gus.
toners sometimes lose sales waiting
Tor shoes to arrive. With the new Job
bsg house they will be enabled To
nave their hurry orders Skinned the
same day they are receired, which will
be far more satisfactory to the Gus.
TONER and will result In largely-in-
erased business to the w. L. Douglas
S.ioe Co.
The new building is eco feet long
and 70 feet wide and two stories in
heisht. The tobbing department will
occupy the entire lower door. while
the offices will occupy the second floor.
Leaving the new jobbing house on
the hrst floor, the main staircase as.
cends to the second floor level in two
divisions separating on the first land
ing ana meeting again upon the fourth.
where the large Palladian window is
situated, which appears over the en-.
trance.
AT the head Of the staircase in
the mosaic floor appears the word
Atrium, the name OF the inner hall
planned and decorated after the man.
ner OF the central apartment of the
fompeiian house. This room Is direct.
~ In the center Of the main building
being 26x6S and 10 feet in height and
Is lighted by three large ceiling skv.
lights OF classic design.
Around the atrium are placed the
private Offices, where the heads of the
departments are located, with their
assistants. Beginning at the right of
the main entrance, in order. are those
OF the c. +. Richmond, buyer: II r.
Drake, general superintendent Hon
w. L. Douglas. president; and II. l.
Iinkham, treasurer. They are finished
ana furnished in mahogany and arc
ensuite. Mr.. Douglas own room oc.
cupies the southwest corner 90 ,no
building and Is very handsome
apartment. To the left of these comes
the room OF c. ID. Nevins, assistant
treasurer. Mrs. Marion Shields. cor.
respondence clerk, and the store do
partment.
on the east Of the atrium and omen.
Ing into this hall are two aIcoves son.
arated by mahogany counters. tho
fronts OF which are plate glass and
grilles Of bronze. These are the oe,cos
., warren Weeks, paymaster, and
Harry L. Thompson, the bookkeeper.
The next In order to the left are two
rooms devoted to the credit depart.
ment, one the private Office of A. T.
sweetser and the other occupied by his
clerks. The next two Offices are tho.
OF =. L. Erskine, advertising manager.
and his assistants.
The three other rooms comn,o,,,o
the outer wall line OF the atrinm arc
the reception room to the left ~ On.
staircase hall. directors room ana
lavatory and the sample room. Here
are located the telegraph instruments
telephone switchboard and booths for
use Of guests.
The directors room Is a fine cham.
Der occupying the space in the north.
west corner OF the building. This
room Is finished and furnished in ma.
bogany and all appointments are in
keeping. Here hangs a portrait in oil
OF Dir. Douglas. the president The