Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1908-10-02
eERLlN'S BIGGEST DEPART.
MENT STORE. =.
Brief History, Development and
Growth of the Berlin Dry
Goods Co.

Goods Co.
One of the business concerns of which
Berlin citizens are justly proud is the
department store of the Berlin Dry
Goods Co. under the management OF
Loriu \. Dresser aud which occupies the
entire first floor of the handsome brick
block called the NORM block at the cor
ner of Main and Mason Streets. This
store was twelve years old last January
it having been incorporated January
10th, 1896 under the firm name of the
Berlin Dry Goods Co.
This store has shown a wonderful
growth and development in that short
period, it being at the time of incorpora.
ton a small dry goods store while today
it consists of four distinct departments
each carrying heavy stock of goods
The history of this store illustrates as
perhaps nothing else does the change
in needs of the population and it has
kept pace with these changes adal ting
itself to each new condition. In the first
year the little store outgrew its quarters,
aud the next year an addition was built
on the back for garment department !;
its next step occurred the year after when
it took on the corner store next to the
store they were occupying i'll what was
known as the Clement block for a cloth
ing department.
These three stores comprised the home
of the company for several years until
in 1903 shortly before the Clement block
burned they took on another store in
the same block for a garment depart
ment. After the fire what few goods
were saved were moved Immediately to
the NORM block which they already had
lease for a term of years consisting of
the four stores on the ground floor. Two
months later these stores being fully
equipped and stocked the opening of the
new store took place. This was very
pleasant occasion and was attended by
nearly the whole city who came to wish
the store prosperity in its new home.
This wish has been amply realized and
the business has grown from year to
year.
At first the company occupied the
three lower stores as follows: The cor
ner store for the Clothing, Gents Furn-
ishings, Hats and Caps, Boots and Shoes
ETC., next in order the Dry and Fancy
Goods department, while the next door
toward the north opens into the Ladies,
Misses and Children's Ready to Wear
department. About two years ago they
took on the fourth store, and put in a
stock of Crockery, Kitchen Ware, Car
pets and Rugs, Curtains, Draperies, Sta
tionery, Pictures, etc. Soon after this
the business was put on to a strictly de-
partment basis, and each department
being complete store by itself and &C.
counts separately kept. The goods in
each department, it is only fair to say,
are strictly high class and are always
exactly as represented. The firm has
aimed always to have the best goods at
the lowest prices. In all there are eight
cen clerks employed in the store and
with the bookkeeper and cashier make
twenty people working in this establish
ment.
One feature of the store which has
grown rapidly and is a success in every
way is the mail order department, One
clerk looks after all orders that come in
this way and they are filled and sent out
on first mail or express. If the custom
ers ask for anything not to be found in
the store the clerk finds it for them if to
be had in the city. In this department
as all others the money is refunded if
goods are not satisfactory In fulfilling
this latter promise they have had many
curious experiences, and in many cases
trying ones, as they have often done this
to please the customer at a considerable
loss. 1t is hoped that application of the
golden rule in business they have not
been a loser in the long run. When
visiting Berlin do not fail to call on this
enterprising firm, and any purchase yon
make of $1,000 or over at their store,
your car fare one way will be deducted
from the amount of your purchase. They
also pay express charges on all purchases
| of $500 and over.