Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-01-07
40 YEARS AT ONE
BUSINESS STAND
Harry c. Ross Congratulated
by His Friends on the
Anniversary


Forty years ago yesterday Harry
c. Ross opened his tailoring estab-
llshment at 21 North Third street.
"Forty years in the same location
and still going strong" said Mr..
Ross to friend who offered him con-
gratulations. and that about ex-
presses 1t. There is not a younger
old gentleman in Harrisburg than
Boss" Ross. as the frequenters of
his place of business love to call
him. For the Ross shop is more than
tailoring establishment; 1t Is the
Hatchery" and thereby hangs a
tale. Some years back a Democratic
newspaper writer used the term be-
cause 1t was alleged that many of
the Republican campaign plans were
Matched there. Mr.. Ross friends
laughed over the name, made 1t
standing joke and finally adopted 1T
for their own. And so IL comes that
the veteran tailor-veteran OF the
Civil War. too, for that matter
came to be Boss" Ross and his tai
lorshop the Hatchery" Fl
To have the freedom of the Ross
shop is a privilege that is enjoyed
by those who are in the good graces
of Mr.. Ross and is coveted by many
who would be proud to boast of it.
Here, during the day, as in a club,
men prominent in the business, pro-
fessional and political life of the city
and state meet to chat for a few
minutes and to hear the latest news
of what is happening at the Capitol
or in business circles. The Boss"
knows more things that he doesn't
tell than most persons in Harrisburg.
Mr.. Ross is an ardent Republican
and a staunch friend of Lieutenant
Governor-elect T.. T.. Beidleman,
whom he has watched advance from
the ranks of young aspirant to the
Legislature to the second position of
trust in the gift of the Common
wealth. One of the happiest days of
his life was when the Senator swept
the state last November. Almost any
day may be seen at the Hatchery"
such well-known men as Colonel
Charles e. Covert w. Harry Baker,
Frank E. Smith, who is to succeed
Senator Beidleman in the Senate;
George B. Tripp, Sheriff w. w. Cald-
WE'LL Arthur -. bdCOH, w. I' DSHS-
hey and a host Of others. most of
them Republicans. not to mention
Mercer b. Tate. the lone Democrat
of the bunch.
The Name n Joke
The Joke of the Hatchery" is that
it never deserved the name. Politics
is not discussed there, save in very
general way. No political plan ever
was matured there. No important
conferences ever are held there. Men
gather there as they do at club. and
all because they are fond of Boss"
Ross and like to bask in the genial
atmosphere of his charming person
ality, for Mr.. Ross is a man of high
good humor, extremely democratic
of habit and speech and knows how
to make the visitor welcome. But
woe unto the stranger who butts
in" unless he comes on business,
which is q thing quite apart from
the ordinary functions of the Hatch
cry" Not that there is any show
of hostility; oh, no, the frequenters
of the Hatchery" are always polite,
but the "horner-in" somehow gets
notice that he. is not member and
pays no more visits.
But, as has been said, 1t Is not all
sociability at the Hatchery" Mr..
Ross is a tailor of note and his books
contain the names of Senators. Con-
gressmen, Governors, generals. colo
nels, judges, mayors, physicians, law
yers, bankers and scores of other
prominent men for whom he has
made suits or overcoats. He has not
let the advancing years set heavily
either on him or his business, as
moments conversation with him will
reveal, and his friends feel that he
Is due to round out at least half
century at 81 North Third street be-
fore retiring to his fine farm in the
eastern section of the county, which
Is now his summer residence and all
the year around hobby.