The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-10-08
HARTLEY STORE
WILL SOON WEAR.
CHANGED LOOK
New Elevator To Make
Possible Sweeping
Improvements

A great number of people have
been wondering the past few day.
what sort OF frame structure wa:
being constructed on the inside, At
the rear, OF Hartley's Department
Store, on Main street. 1t resem-
bles at present moving picture
scenario framework, and is nc
more or less than the beginning Of
a many thousand dollar electric
elevator which will be three times
the size OF the old water elevator
now in use. 1t Is expected that the
new elevator Will be In use by
Thanksgiving, and at any rate
making allowance for delays and
mishaps, the Christmas trade OF
Hartley's store will have the ex-
treme pleasure of riding to the va.
rlous floors on the biggest, most at
tractive elevator in the entire city,
The new elevator will be the latest
type of Otis electrIc-will be en-
tireIy flreproot and constructed OF
iron, will have a speed of $50 feet
a minute, and will hold If neces-
sary 5000 pounds. The car is tc
be ornamented and will be proVld-
ed with three doors, one stationary
and two active. II will have 2 col
lapslble gate at the entrance.
The elevator now in use, which
is entirely Inadequate, will be re-
moved and the space in the center
OF the store floored over, giving
not so much actual room as much
roomier effect TO each floor becaHse
the space Will not be cut up. There
are at present three rooms over the
Pedple es bank nndstwQ over the reg;
'lfiaT anneN in the rear from che
second iloor which are used tor re-
serve stock. In installing an ele-
yator in q better location, at the
left rear of the store, these reserve
rooms may be reached by the pub
lie. The Hartley company there
fore intend turning these rooms
into sales rooms ii all goes well
with plans for other places secured
for the extra stock. Owing to the
position of the building, which for
is years this coming November
has been reaching higher and high
er to the skies, 1t is not possible
10 sprea dout sideways. For this
reason the Hartley company intend
making the most Of their skyward
facilities so that when all is COM
pleted there will result a depart
ment store which is adequate and
beautiful in every way.
Two other changes VIII be made.
These include the change in the
basement entrance which leads
now from the first floor down, just
In the rear of the old elevator. The
new entrance will be to the side OF
the new elevator. at the left rear Of
the store on the first floor. This
will change the entire appearance
of the basement, removing the old
elevator obstruction in the center
and giving q solid floor unbroken
by stairway.
The second change, and this is
really the biggest in the store, has
to do with the entire remodeling
of the whole first floor in keeping
with the unbroken floor space
which the removal OF the old eleva'
tor makes possible. For q long
time store authorities and patrons
have known that the first floor was
too crowded. With the changes
decided upon, for which blue prints
are already made, the first floor
will be most spacious and comfort
able, with counters changed and
units Installed to make room toT
several times as much stock in the
same space.
Starting from the entrance. the
lobby space will be enlarged oS
moving the notion counter back.
To the right as you enter the RIB.
bon and dress goods counters Will
stand as they are. To the left 81.
be placed the hosiery, glove and
handkerchief and probably gtfi
counters. At present this space IL
occupied by the shoe department
which will be moved to the rear Of
the store. The added space in the
lobby will do wonders for the first
floor and when the changes are al
installed this floor will reflect prop
erIy the size OF the Hartley De,
partment Store, heretofore an i'm
possibility because Of the position
Of tho old elevator.
The installing Of units consisting
OF glass sections for holding mer,
chandise means that 10 pairs oi
gloves, for instance, will occupy
space formerly used for one pair
The units will hold many other ar
ticles.
The machinery which operates
the new elevator will all be placed
on top Of the building instead of al
the bottom as with the old eleva'
tor. A pit is being dug In the
basement six by eight and f6ul
feet deep, filled with concrete upon
which rests the steel tower.
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