The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-12-09
ANNUAL SALES ARE
ABOUT $4,000, 900
Durham Brothers Co. Have Largest
Wholesale Shoe Business in Unit
ed States-Firm' History.

eQ oL1LSS-E t1ISLOIY.
One of the several mercantile cs-
Establishments of which Brattleboro is I
Justly proud is that of Durham Broth |
ers company, wholesale and retail boot |
and shoe dealers. Few people even |
among those who are lifelong residents /
realize that in our midst is located the
largest wholesale shoe business in tire |
United States, while the whole world |
does not contain another Wholesale |
shoehouse that does such an extensive
business in rubber footwear, says the |
Brattleboro letter in the Springfield |
Sunday Republican. There are few
more interesting or novel records in
connection with the growth of Brattle- |
boro than that furnished bv this firm
Located MANY miles inland. far re-
moved from the big centers of popula-
ton and commerce the concern has
built up from very humble beginnings
business that in size commands the
respect of the nation.
Charles w and George L. Durham
bought the retail shoe business and
good will of Henry w Simonds, and
began their Brattleboro career in
1885 in one of the stores now occupied
BY them on Main street Their sales
for the first year were about $50, 000
Every wear since its establishment the
business has showed a substantial in
crease About % years ago they began
doing a wholesale business with the
stores in the surrounding towns. George
L. Durham, the president of the COM
panv, making the trips individually
with a horse and carriage at intervals.
Soon afterward they employed John A.
Greenwood of Chester, Vt, as travel
ing salesman, and he has continued
with them ever since. Later on they
added two or three other statesmen TO
! their force
| About 20 years ago the firm took on
new lines Of goods and Is more travel
] ing statesmen were added to the force.
/ The firm soon obtained agencies for
several of the largest shoe manufac-
turtles in this country. Since that time
the business has increased by leaps and
/ bounds.
IN addition to New England and
Greater New York they now cover
New York state, Pennsylvania and
| parts of West Virginia and New Jer
sey The side track to their ware
! house enables them to load and I'M
load six cars at the same time. Quite
an extensive mail order business IS
done III several other states and until
the war broke out they had several
large accounts III the different coun-
tries of Europe The annual sales now
amount to $4,000 900. The first of each
year they hold in assembly hall a school
for their statesmen.
The members of the firm arc all sons
Of the late Samuel w. and Rachel +.
Durham and were born In Paris, Me.
| The senior member of the firm, the
late Charles ". Durham, was formerly
Il school teacher in his native state and
before coming to Brattlcboro was en-
gagged III flour and grain business.
He married Marx +. Pratt Of Rrattle-
boro, who outliy ed him but short
time. Their onlyf son, Stewart, is now
a student at Worcester academy
George l.. Dunham was educated nj
Hebron academy. Maine, and Colby
college and before coming to Bratfle-
boro had charge of the classical depart
ment of Portland (Me,) high school
He was for two years president Of the
New England shoe wholesalers associa.
ton, and has always been identified
with the best interests Of the town. He
was reelected representative to thu
General Assembly last month Not since
1895 has any one in Brattleboro re
ccived an election for two eonsecutiv,
terms. He married Grace EVELYN Haw
ley of Brattleboro. Two daughters were
born TO them, one OF whom, Marion
died SIX years ago. The other daughter
, Evelyn, married Lieut. Harold "
Mason, member of the American
expeditionary forces in France Lyn
don L. Durham, the junior member, i
a graduate Of Coturn classical insti
tute Of Waterville, Me-, and Colby col
; lege. After teaching one term of schoo
he engaged III the shoe business il
J Lewiston, Me, before entering tn
firm Of Durham Brothers company ?
: years ago. He took charge Of a branci
: store in Bellows Falls, where he mar
RED Miss Carolyn Il. Lamson of tina
: town They have one son, John.
: student in Brattleboro high school.