The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-05-12
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

L., J. &L
 No, these initials do not stand for a new secret order.
 Neither are they intended to describe a new alphabetical young peoples so- clety.
 They are so well known in Birming- ham and Alabama that they hardly need to be written out in full.
 But for the strangers within our gates I'll say they are the abbreviations for Loveman, Joseph & Loeb.
 This firm, established May 10, 1887, has had long and an honorable career. l. has grown with Birmingham.
 l can remember 30 years ago, May 10, 1887, the date when A. B. Loveman of Greensboro, tho founder, bought out W. B. Smith. A few weeks later M. V. Joseph of Selma came to Birmingham
 
 man & Joseph. Then Emil Loeb of New York bought an interest. and ever since Loveman, Joseph 6 Loeb has been one of the going firms of the district.
 A. B. Loveman was a man who stood for right. His recent death was a great loss to the city. He was a just man, greatly beloved by his employees. They trusted him and he was ever faithful to their best interests.
 M. V. Joseph has been conspicuous for over score of years in every affair that has looked to the upbuilding of Bir- mingham. He is not only a great mer- chant but Is one of the states first citizens. He Is . man of vision and courage
 Emil Loeb never spent much of his time in Birmingham. I have only met him casually as he used to come south. He had the reputation of being an up- to-date business man.
 I1oo Loeo hHoW intimately. I've watched him grow as his firm grew. Leo isn't much for size. but he is big enough in energy and brains to measure up to the big new building
 Joe Loveman is not only financier Joe is beginning to get a grip on civic life as was evidenced by his power to make such a success of the Liberty Day pa- rade.
 Berney Loveman is the soldier. Berney made a great record on the border. It will be good news to his friends to know tion for appendicitis and will soon be ready to go back to his regiment
 If had space I would like to tell of some of the other men in the L.. J. & L. organization. The heads of the de- partments are 8 fine lot of aggressive merchants and Mort Simpson Is a great advertising man. (Just read his page ads every day, and you will realize that he has a mans job).
 Loveman, Joseph & Loeb in 30 years have grown amazingly, faster even than the marvellous growth of Birmingham, which tied up all census records for growth among American cities
 Starting on the ground floor of two- story building at 1913 Second avenue with 2S-foot front, running back to the alley, Loveman &>Joseph got ambitious when Emil Loeb came into the firm, and they rented the upstairs
 A bit later the firm began to spread out and acquired the adjoining two-story building at 1915 Second avenue. Here they soon outgrew their quarters It was their next venture that took courage. Some thought it spelled ruin for them.
 They bought a lot, 60x2O0 on Nine teenth street and what is now Second alley, which was formerly occupied as a stable for the car system of Birmingham A four-story building was erected on this
 
 I thought they had at last gotten a place that would hold them for all time.
 But 10 years later, in 1S99 having bought the rest of the block between Sec ond alley and Third avenue on Nineteenth street, Loveman, Joseph and Loeb tore down from the location what was then known as the Elyton block and erected a four-story building to correspond to the one then occupied. This made the hand somest block in the entire city, giving the firm a store facing Nineteenth street for 40 feet and running back for 200 feet It is in this building that they have had such success that again they have had to enlarge.
 From time to time they have bought more ground until they now own nearly the entire block.
 The company is now building six story annex on a lot 35x100 feet in the rear of the present building, and it's con- veniences are going to be a revelation to the people of Birmingham when it is oc- cupied.
 A few days ago I went from roof to cellar, and it's a model in every way. It's not only going to make shopping easier, but it's going to add greatly to the comfort of the employees, as no pains or money has been spared in the en- deavor to provide for their wants. -l- 4