The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-01
DEPARTMENT STORE n CELEBRATE ITS 25TH ANNIVERSARY Loveman, Joseph X Loeb Begins Big Silver Cele-
 bration Today THE 25 YEARS OF
 BUSINESS REVIEWED Started April 26, 1887, When A. B. Loveman Bought Store of W. A.
 Smith, and Has Since Grown
 as the City Grew
Rr CLYDE W. ENNlN

By CLYDE W. ENNlS
 Today is the twenty-ffth anniversary of Loveman, Joseph X Loeb.
 Beginning today and continuing for one month the Largest store south of the Ohio will fittingly celebrate the silver Jubilee of the firm. Since the latter part of December plans have been under con sderation for the anniversary celebration and it is said that no more protentious occasion ever has been conceived by southern merchants.
 The entire staff of employees will today wear silver badge in honor of their employers, while the ladies employed at Loveman, Joseph & Loeb's will wear only white.
 The firm of Loyeman, Joseph X Loeb was founded on April 26, 1887, by A. B Loveman, its present senior member, when he purchased the good will and stocks of W. A Smith. located at 19lt Second avenue, where Steele-smith are now located. The formal notice that the young merchant from Greensboro had started his mercantile career in this city was contained in the following card pub lished in the Birmingham Age April 26 1SS7
 Store First Started "Office of A. B. Loveman, DRY GOODS EMPORIUM, Dealers in Dry Goods and Nations. 1915 Second avenue, between Nineteenth and Twentieth streets. NOTICE OF SALE.
 'T take this method of Informing my friends and former patrons that I have sold out my entire stock of goods. to- gether with my good will. to MT. A. E. Loveman of Greensboro, Ala. who will, as soon as the storeroom, now undergoing remodellng, is completed. open with full line of goods.
 "Thankng the public for the liberal patronage heretofore bestowed on me, l bespeak the same for my successor, whom they will find in every way worthy of it.
 For the present my office will be with MT. Loveman. where l shar be glad to meet my friends. w. A. SMITH.
 Birmingham. Ala, April 26. 1Ss7'
  ure to announce to the citizens of Br- mingham and the public at large that l have permanently located in this city for the purpose of carrying on the dry goods business of staple and fancy dry goods, ladies' and gents underwear. shoes. etc.
 'I shall endeavor by strictly fair dealing and selling first class goods at modern prices to merit the patronage of everyone who will favor me with an examination Monday the 9th day of May, and I shall be pleased to have you call. Very respect fully. "A. R. LoVEMAN.p
 Joseph Becomes Interested
 At the time MT. Loveman secured the stocks of MT. Smith, a young Selma mer- chant was in Birmingham, namely, Moses V. Joseph. He was here on bush ness and stopped at the Relay house. While collecting a bill or trying 10 collect 1t at Blount Springs he had to come here on account of his debtor moving to BIr- mingham. In a trade to liquidate that account MT. Joseph secured some mules and sold them to a stable keeper who was running a stable where Loyeman, Joseph & Loeb now stands.
 On the 17th of July. 1887. MT. Loveman caused to tbe printed an announcement Joseph of Selma and that the firm would be known as Loveman & Joseph.
 On account of the instant success made of the business, the firm was compelled to secure more space, so the adjoining store to 1915 Second avenue, occupied by the Towers Hardware company, was se- cured That was November "A, 1887. Two years later Emil Loeb of New York, a relative of MT. Loveman. was taken into the firm and the firm name was then Loveman, Joseph & Loeb, as 1t now stands.
 In order to take part in the celebra- ton, Mr. Loeb will be in Birmingham. arriving from New York tomorrow night.
 New Quarters
 The new firm continued to transact a good business for two years when better quarters were desired MT. Joseph pur- chased 80 feet on Nineteenth street. The firm did not have cent to pay for the lot or any money to erect a building. However, they had abundant faith In Bir- mingham, so they took a chance and started the first half of their present building The firm moved there Septem- Der B. 1891, whereupon the Birmingham newspapers remarked that 5000 or ZOO peo- ple visited the opening
 The firm removed to the new store Sep tember 3. 1891. while on March 3, 1899, the first work of demoishing the adjoining building called the Elyton block for the new annex ito fill the 160 feet on Nine- teenth street was started. The firm moved into the big store September |, ls99 The store has since that time occu- pied the entire building with several ware house stores in various parts of the city. One year after the firm moved into the new building, Judge Lane at present one of the city commissioners, was elected mayor of Birmingham.
 In the year that Loveman, Joseph X .oeb started here the first electric light was turned on in Birmingham being To- cated at the corner of Third avenue and Nineteenth street. That light has grown until Birmingham at night is a blaze of electricity, as typifed by the White Way, opening which was an event of last even ing
 On November ?, 1881, when the firm was established, the O'Brien opera house was thrown open to the public. having been erected by Capt. Frank P. O Brien.