The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-07-05
MASONIC TEMPLE SOLD.
j. ID. CRAIG FURNITURE CON.
PANI ACQUIRES VALUABLE
PROPERTY.
Plans for Up-to-Datc Furniture Estab-
lishmcnt With All Modren Con-
Ncnicnces--This Firm Will Also Es-
tablish and Maintain Large and
Comfortable Rest Rooms for Ladies'
Maid To- be i'm Attendance all
Day.

Maid To- be in Attendance all
Day.
The negotiations that have been i'm
progress for several weeks between
the j. ID. Craig Furniture Company
and the ownrs of the Masonic Tenn
pie property, on West Liberty street,
looking to the purchase Of the Ma
sonic Temple by the Craig Furniture
Company were brought to a success
iul conclusion on Monday last and
the title to the property was trans
ferred to the Craig Furniture Co.. the
consideration being $22,5OO. The
property consists of lot. with
frontage of rs feet on the South side
OF West Liberty street and Xtending
back ia feet. and located thereon q
three-story brick building. The
building contains three store-rooms
on the first floor, the large Armory
hall with locker rooms adjacent and
four large offices on the front. On
the third floor is the Lodge room,
used Jointly by all the fraternal orders
of the city.
The Craig Furniture Company has
outgrown its quarters at the cor
ner of North Main and Canal streets
where n furniture and undertaking
business has been carried on con-
tinuously for more than. forty years
by the late j. d. Craig and his i'm
mediate successors, the j. ID. Craig
Furniture Company, which was or
ganized several years before Mr..
Craig's death to take over the busi-
ness. r. F. Haynsworth is presi-
dent of the company, Geo. II. Hurst,
secretary and treasurer and w. G.
Wise. manage. the latter having had
charge of the business for the past
three or four years only. Within the
past three years the business Of the
company has grown at a phenominal
rate. and the old quarters, which were
TO be adequate for the needs
OF the company for many years to
come. were quickly outgrown and
Ii became apparent to the officers of
the company that they would have TO
enlarge the old storeroom
or seek new quarters. In their search
Tor suitable and drsirably located
quarters their choice fell upou tho
Temple and the purchase
was made.
Ine hrst and second rpor, VIII
extensive alterations and an
addition will be built on the rear of
the first floor. n plate glass front
will be put In, and the storerooms now
occupied by j. r. Mercer and NJ. p.
Randle will be thrown into one. The
morgue will be located in the addi-
ton to be built In the rear of the
present building. The Armory hall
Will be converted into a show room
and provided with an elevator. The
other part of the second floor will be
utilized as a mortuary chape! where
funeral services can be held, and for
a sitting room and rest rooms for the
ladies OF Sumter County. The rest
rooms will be comfortably furnished
with chairs and couches and cribs
for babies and children. There will
he toilet and dressing room and a
maid will be on duty all day and it
VIII be her duty to take care of chill |
dren and babies while their mothers
are doing their shopping. These
rooms will be open to all ladies, with
out restrictions and they will be made
welcome at all times
Manager Wise says that he expects
to complete the alterations and i'm
provcments as quickly as possible and
move into the building between Sep
tember 1st and 18th. In the new
a much larger and finer
stock Of furniture and house furnish |
lngs will be carried than ever before !
and the effort will be to make it one
Of the most complete and up date ,
furniture and undertaking establish |
meuts in the State.