The Mena weekly star., 1917-01-11

One of the most important and far-reaching business changes that has taken place in Mena in long time was consummated Monday when G l.. Loehridge sold all his in terests in the Lochridge Dry Goods Company to Fred Duke and k. H. Sapp, and at the same time T. G. Green sold his interest in the insti- tuition to the same parties.
 The purchasers, with the others interested in the company immedi- ately reOrganized by the election of Fred Duke as president; w. K. Holt, as vice president and E. II. Sapp as secretary-treasurer. The new cor poratlon, capitalized and fully paid up for S25,0O0, takes over the entire stock of goods, all accounts and notes and all other property that was owned by the old corporation. The business for the present at least will be conducted as the Lochridge Dry Goods Company, and will con- tinue Ill the present location in the business building, which is the per- sonal property of Mr. Lochridge, but contracts have already been let for extensive improvements in the way of painting and kalsomining and re- flooring, which will increase the at tractiVeness of the interior of the rooms.
 The business is one of the best es- tablished in Polk county. It was started about r years ago by G. l.. Lochridge, and to his genius and business ability is largely due the development and increase of the business to the point where the year just ended has been one of the best in the past ten years of the history of the institution. The bus mess is so firmly established and the prospects for the future were so promising, that nothing but his failing health and the desire to be relieved from business cares, could have induced him to dispose of his interests.
 In 1906, the company was incor- porated with a paid up capital of ss225 ,000. and this capital remains tine same under the new management. At that time w. E. Holt became a member of the organization, being elected secretary-treasurer, which position he held up to the present time. About a year ago. another re- organization took place, and at that time T. G. Green and Fred Duke became members of the organiza- tiOn, Mir. Duke being elected vice. president of the concern, with Mir. Lochridge and Mir. Holt retaining the positions of President and secre- tary, respectively.
 The retiring members of the cor pOration have plans for the imme-- diate future. Mir. Lochridge will di- vest himself of other business cares, and with Mrs. Lochridge, will spend some time in travel in an effort to recuperate his health. Mir. Green will take charge of the Lochridge farm in the Dallas valley, which has already been we'll stocked and equipped for stock raising. tho he will remain with the new firm un- til his successor is broken in"
 The present employees will all be retained by the new management. and in the reorganization, Fred Duke was made general manager. He had been with MT. Lochridge for two years, before becoming a mem Der of the corporation, and previous to that had had several years exper- fence in merchandising. Mir. Holt, who has been with Mr. Lochridge almost since the business began, will be manager of the shoe depart ment and Mr. Sapp, who until last fall had been with the Farmers & Merchants Bank, will be the book keeper. The employees will be as signed as follows. w. ]. Brinton will he decorator and have charge of the dress goods departments; Miss Pauline Pryor will continue as cash fer; Mrs. w. C. Smothers will be in charge of the notion and corset de- partment Miss Bella Mount will look after the hosiery and under wear department and Miss Nell Whipple will have charge of the laces, ribbons and embroidery de- partments and will also assist in the notion department. Will Kelly viii be assistant in the mems furnishing department.