The Washington times., 1915-10-04
bERBER|CH STORES
OBSERVE BIRTHDAY
This 10 Forty-seventh Anniver.
sary Of Founding Of Big Shoe
Store.

The hftieth anniversary Of the Grand
review Of his comrades Of tho Union
army having been celebrated with TN.
usual demonstration. Private Robert
Berberich. 1s3d Pennsylvania Volunteer
lnfantry. inausurated today q grand re-
View Of the long procession Of Berberieh
customers on the occasion Of tho forty.
seventh anniversary Of the founding OF
the shoe business over which the vet
eran's sons now preside.
Three generations Of shoemakers and
shoe statesmen were represented In the
iiSrbsrich stores today. when the many
dropped in to extend their CON
Rratulations. While the business under
Us present name and title dates back
put forty.scyen years. Il was nifty years
ago that Robert Berberich hrst began to
ply his awl as q shoemaker In the es-
tablishment Of John Walter at Ills Sew
enth street. Just q few doors from the
present headquarters establishment OF
the frm he founded
Took Business In 1868. a
John Walter had been in the shoe
making and shoe-selling business since
1sa3 at the same place. Berberich came
to Washington at the time OF the grand
review. and secured q Job making shoes
with Mr.. Walter. A short time later
ne married Mr.. Walters daughter. and
10 1883 took charge OF the business un-
"A native of"f Of Baden. Germany. Mr.
Beroerich came to this country while
a boy and settled in Pittsburgh. where
no learned his trade az a shoemaker
the labor saving machinery that Is
used In the business at present. TIE
making OF shoes was almost an art.
Mr.. Berberich learned every phase
OF It, so that after his service In the
at the bench Of the Walter establish.
ment. he was thoroughly versed In
the business OF shoemaking In all its
branches. The Walter establishment
occupied only a nine-foot front on
Seventh street when Mr.. Berberich
extended throughout the District. be.
cause OF the quality Of the shocs Ber.
berich made
When business became so great tina,
a larger store was necessary. and I,
was also necesary to carry stocks OF
knowledge OF every bra nch OF the tusi.
ness made It possible for MIN to know
the quality OF the workmanship OF
every shoe he carried In his stock. and
that could not receive the same guar.
antee as the shoes he made on his
own bench.
Sons Become Partners.
That was the foundation OF tha
Berberich success. The founder OF the
business believed in the shoe as a
method OF demonstrating art, indus.
try. and the Highest quality OF per.
sonal ambition. He made shoes and
shoemaking the one great feature oil
MS life-that 10 the great feature OF
his life except one. That one happen.
ed to be his family. which contained
two BOYS. Robert }. and Joseph A.
ms SHOES. but ke msnssed to comhin.
the two loves into one by teaching
the boys all he knew about shoes
He brought them up to believe In the
dignity and integrity OF his business
Twenty-Five years ago the old Rober,
berberich sign that had been up sc
down. and Berberich's replaced il
The business was turned over I,
iuteiy and for twenty-five years the,
have had sole charge of II. Continuing
along the lines their father had started
and adopting a policy Of the widest ad
vertisement OF their wares and thei,
business methods. the sons built up tht
business to its present condition. The
house OF Berberich now occupies foul
store buildings on Seventh street III
to ll22 and also double store building
at Sl3 Pennsylvania avenue.
In celebration Of the anniversary-the
forty-seventh-every purchaser Of a
lishments today Is being presented with
box Of Lady Fairfax candy. and the
ladies who are customers OF the store
will receive American Beauty roses.