The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-09-10

ed I'm this city and filling a long felt want
I'm the community as ii then was. coming
from Franklin. Mass, from which place
the dye house took it's name At that
time there were several other establish
ments attempting to do the same work,
but none OF them were successful TO the
satisfaction of those whose patronage was
sought with the Franklin Dye House,
however. the story was different. Mr..
Davidson was OF such keenly perceptive
nature that he discovered at once what
was needed and embodied those needs i'm
the present dye house; and from the time
OF its establishment until today there has
never been n moment when the work
turned out was not prominently sats-
factory. Proof of the entire satisfaction
given can he shown by the books OF the
CONCERN which list the names OF patrons
for three decades back and more. Among
these are some OF the most prominent
families OF the state.
Mr. Davidson was for 16 years at the
head Of the concern and then decided to
withdraw. Casting about for a man to
conduct the business and TO continue his
policies and plans. he thought Of Mr.
Prior, who had been associated with him
from the latter's boyhood and who knew
the business from It's beginning. The
change took place in 1880, but the name
remained the same. When the business
was first started there were but four
employees while now II has so outgrown
itself that there are Ia employed, with
two offices and factory and wagons de-
livering goods TO all portions Of the state.
The Pawtucket branch, established 25
years ago at 10 North Main street will
soon move into new quarters i'm the
Record building on Main street. and bears
the same relation to Pawtucket and the
northern section Of the state that the
office I'm this city bears to Providence and
the southern part The patrons not only
include the social set Of Newport. who
have come 10 rely upon the work OF the
Franklin Dye House during the summer.
but the best families Of Fall River and
other portions Of Massachusetts, and Con-
necticut. During the summer months
his son. John +. Prior. looks after the
business end for the concern at Newport,
and bids fair when the father retires to
step Immediately into his place TO carry
on the work
on the Sth Of this month the store on
Mathewson street will celebrate the 4lst
year Of its existence: and. though having
the features OF an old landmark. IL is
yet one OF the most up-to date places
that could be imagined. and one has only
TO step within TO discover that fact. The
store has been remodeled In the past two
years 10 keep pace with the times and to
provide more convenience. both I'm the
display OF the work to he done and 10
make more office room. Mr. Prior takes
great pride I'm the fact that his institu-
tion, for such II has become, has stood
the storms OF two panlcs while at least
two others have gone INTO memory, and
the fact that he has been shrewd enough
20 install every Improvement that could
I'm any way make his establishment the
more proficient and whereby he could the
better please his friends and patrons. The
concern takes specials pride In dyeing
and renovating portieres that have seem
ingly passed their age OF usefulness This
Is one of the features OF the establish
ment that has never failed TO give salts
faction and TO make friends with the
matrons looking after the beauty of their
households.
Another fact In wh'cn Mr.. Prior takes
great pride Is that I'm the entire 81 years
with which he has been connected with
the business he has never lost three
months. either as vacation or for Illness;
and his ambition Is tv round out fun
half century "in the harness When he
has reached that mark he hopes TO be
able to retire upon his laurels and 10 turn
the active management OF the business
over TO those whom he - training 20 fol-
low him. In this ambition he promises
TO be as successful as he was In making
the business as important as 1t now Is TO
the community.