Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1911-06-08
A Big Store.
Polster Bros. New Store About
Ready for 0ccupancy-A Big
Line of Goods Will be
Carried.

In 1867 John Polster opened up
mercantile establishment in
this city. 1t was a small store,
to be sure, as all stores were in
those days, but it did business,
and made money. Mr.. Polster
died in the seventies, and his
family carried on the business.
It afterward was taken in charge
by John T., a son, and when his
brothers, E. G. and c. F. were
older they became associated with
him. The business from its
start by the father was carried
on in a frame building, which is
remembered by a great many
people of this city and vicinity.
| After awhile it was decided to
move the frame building and put
up a brick store building. This
was done, and the new building
was IS feet wide. This soon be-
came too small and a larger
building was put up. This was
nice building, and the boys
were doing a nice business. But
on the morning of March 7, 1909,
fire broke out in the drug store
of Campbell Bros. to the south
of them, and not only burned the
drug store; but the Po!ster hotel,
and Polster Bros store we're al
so destroyed. Not daunted in
the least the boys took their
goods, practically all of which
we're saved from the flames, and
rented a couple of rooms and con-
tinued busineSs-one of the rooms
being used for the mems store,
and the other for the ladies'
store. They held their trade
and planned for the future.
In a few days, now, they will
move into the finest store room
in the county, built especially
for their lines. The new room
is 75x1OO feet, and is fitted up in
"a modern way, with modern fur
niture; it is we'll lighted, and
will contain all modern conven-
fences not only for merchandise
ing. but for the patrons.
The south side of the new store
will be used for the mems lines
of goods. Clothing, shoes, hats,
underwear, ties, in fact it will
be a general haberdashery. All
the fixtures will be up-to-date.
The ladies' section, or rather
the middle part of the store, will
be used for dry goods, piece
goods, misses ladies' and child
ren's shoes, ribbons, and every
thing of a nature to interest the
women.
An Immense hosiery section
will occupy the front part of the
middle section.
In the middle section, where
will be kept the dry goods, the
shelving has been built along
late lines, i. e. it is not high,
like the old time shelving, but
the base shelf is only about
twelve inches from the floor, and
it is deep, so goods can be put in
endwise. The shoes will not be
kept on shelves, but will be in
double cabinets, back to back.
In this way it is easier to take
care of stock, and the goods are
easier shown.
Over in the mems section the
hats will be kept in a long rod
ded case, and not in boxes, as is
the old way.
In the north part of the build
ing will be a variety section,
where will be kept everything
usually carried by racket stores.
In this department will also be
found trunks, sewing machines,
washing machines, iron and
brass beds, springs, mattresses,
curtains, shades, wallpaper,
paints, carpets, rugs, garden
tools.
A nice line of millinery will
be put in, and a special place
will be set apart for it.
A candy department will be
in the building also; and also a
line of perfumes and toilet arti-
cles, including rubber goods,
soaps, creams, powders, etc.
There will be a mems dressing
room, with lavatory, for the use
of all people, whether they buy
goods or not, and the ladies will
have a rest room with lavatory.
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