Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1906-07-14
otSPLETEsT BUSINESS BUILDING
Failures OF w. L. Douglas Admins.
trRtion and JObbing House.

The dedication OF the new admins
tRtion and jobbIng house building
eected at Brockton, Mass, by the w.
| Il Douglas Shoe Co. as part OF Its
mammoth manufacturing plant at Mon
tilO was marked by the thoroughness
I'd attention to detail characteristic
Q the firm In all Its undertakings.
y the new building is said to be the
Ipst complete and convenient OF any
eer built for commercial house In
th United Stntes, so were the express
sims Of appreciation by the many per-
SOS who visited 1t for inspection sim
cFe and OF a highly congratulatory
nture
The dedicatory program included
oPn house from IL a. N. to p. m.
with concert by the Mace Gay orches-
tn and the presence OF Boston
cferer to attend to the wishes OF all
Tie building itself afforded feast for
tb eye, especially the offices, which
aR marVels In many ways. Fifteen
tbusand invitations were sent out, In
Gliding over 1000 to the retail dealers
i1 the United States, who handle the
W l.. Douglas Co. shoes, the Others
g4ng to shoe manufacturers and all
allied industries in Brockton and vi
chlty. Mr.. Douglas will be glad to
hive anybody who Is interested call
The new building IL situated just
Brth Of the No. factory on Spark
Erect, facing the Montello railroad
cation. Its completion marks the es-
Enlistment of a modern up-to-date
wholesale jobbing house and Office
building Mr.. Douglas has long con-
sldered the advisabilty of a jObbing
house, not only for the purpose OF sup
plying his own retail stores more read
lily, but that the 1000 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
for shoes to arrive. With the new job
bling house they will be enabled to
have their hurry orders shipped the
same day they are received, which will
be far more satisfactory to the Gus
toner and will result In a largely-in
creased business to the w. L. Douglas
Shoe Co.
The new building Is 26o feet long
an EnyIIn an1 fun cfnFfao In
height. The jobbing department will
occupy the entire lower floor, while
the offices will occupy the second floor
Leaving the new jobbing house on
the first floor, the main staircase as
cends to the second floor level in two
divisions separating ON the first land
ing and meeting again upon the fourth
where the large Palladian window Ii
situated, which appears over the en-
trance.
At the head of the staircase IL
the mosaic floor appears the wore
"Atrium," the name OF the inner hall
planned and decorated after the man
ner of the central apartment of thu
Pompeiian house. This room Is direct
ly In the center of the main building
being 26x68 and IS feet In height, anC
is lighted by three large ceiling sky
lights Of classic design.
Around the atrium are placed the
private Offices, where the heads of the
departments are located, with thei
assistants. Beginning at the right Of
the main entrance, In order, are thos,
Of the G. F. Richmond. buyer; H. I
Drake, general superintendent; Hon
w. L. Douglas, president; and H. L
and furnished in mahogany and ar,
ensuite. Mr.. Douglas own room oc
cupies the southwest corner of tn,
building, and Is very handsome
apartment. To the left of these comes
the room of G. d. Nevlns, asslstan
treasurer, Mrs. Marion Shields, cor
respondence clerk, and the store de
partment.
On the east Of the atrium and open
ing into this hall are two alcoves sep
arated by mahogany counters, tn,
fronts of which are plate glass ant
grilles of bronze. These are the Office
of Warren Weeks, paymaster, anC
Harry L. Thompson, the bookkeeper.
The next in order to the left are twt
rooms devoted to the credit depart
ment, one the private Office of A. I
Sweetser and the other occupied by hi
clerks. The next two offices are thos
of f. L. Ersklne, advertising manager
and his assistants.
The three other rooms completing
the outer wall line of the atrlum ar
the reception room to the left of tn
staircase hall, directors room ant
lavatory and the sample room. Her
are located the telegraph instruments
telephone switchboard and booths 70
use of guests.
The directors room Is a fine cham
Der occupying the space in the north
west corner of the building. Thi
room is finished and furnished In ma
hOgany and all appointments are Il
keeping. Here hangs a portrait in Of
of Mr.. Douglas, the president. TIL
last room In this series is the sampl
room, also In mahogany.
On center with the entrance and be
1 tween the bOOkkeeper's alcove and tn
credit department is a hail leading t
the general bookkeeping room, wher
is located the host Of clerks whic
this huge business employs.
Novel Glass Making.
nnm invantinn In the PlASS.nl at