The Kemper herald. (Scooba, Miss.) 1875-1908, 1906-07-12
coMpLErEsT BUSINESS BUILDING
Features of w. L. Douglas Admins
tration and Jobbing House.

~ dCuiSdliOu VI luc uSW dohlihiS
tration and jobbing house building
erected at Brocktoa. Mass. e the w.
L. Douglas Shoe GO. as Il nf.t Of its
mammoth manufacturing pant at Mon
tello was marked by the th~oroughness
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 a commercial house in
the United States, so were the express
sions Of appreciation by the many per-
sons who visited it for inspection sin
cere and of a highly congratulatory
nature.
The dedicatory program included
open house from IL a. m. to 8 p. 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
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 Brockton and vi
cinity. Mr.. Douglas will be glad to
have anybody who is interested call
The new building is situated just
north Of the No. l factory on Spark
street, facing the Montello railroad
station. Its completion marks the es-
Enlistment of a modern %up-to-date
wholesale jobbing house and Office
building. Mr.. Douglas has long con-
sidered the a~dvisabilty 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.
T.. 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 cus-
toner and will result in a largely-in-
creased business to the w. l.. Douglas
Shoe Co.
The new building is 260 feet long
and 60 feet wide and two stories 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 Is
situated, which app -ars 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
Pompeiian house. This room is direct
~ in the center of the main building,
being 26x6S and 16 feet in height, and
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 their
assistants. Beginning at the right of
the main entrance, in order, are those
of the G. &. Richmond, buyer; II. L.
Drake, general superintendent; Hon.
w. L. Douglas, president; and H. L.
Ttnkham, treasurer. They are finished
and furnished in mahogany and are
ensulte. Mr.. Douglas own room oc-
cupies the southwest corner of the
building, and is q very handsome
apartment. To the left of these comes
the room Of @. D. Neyins, assistant
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, the
fronts of which are plate glass and
grilles of bronze. These are the offices
of 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, n the private office of A. L.
Sweetser and the other occupied by his
clerks. The next two offices are those
of f. L. Erskine, advertising manager.
and his assistants.
The three other rooms completing
the outer wall line of the atrium are
the reception room to the left of the
staircase hall, directors room and
lavatory ano 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
hegany and all appointments are in
keeping. Here hangs Il portrait in oil
Of Mr.. Douglas, the president. The
last room In this series is the sample
room, also in mahogany.
On center with the entrance and be-
tween the bookkeeper's alcove and the
credit department is a hall leading to
the general bookkeeping ROOM. where
is located the host of clerks which
this huge business e21"'ovs.
When we take 4 Dol backward oven
sixteen years and find that food, cloth
ing and fuel have SO materially ad.