Norwich bulletin., 1921-04-16
sroKr EsrApLIsnnp Ix 1ss4
BY ALVAH FRANCIS IS SOIL

Francis Corner" is no morel That is, the store at the corner of Thames and West Main streets. established by the late Alvah Francis in 1854, has passed to the ownership of Polish corporation. George Fred Francis having disposed. March 24th, Of the business which came to him from his father.
 Alvah Francis was native of Staff ford and when he came to Norwich and started into trade. conditions were vastly different from those prevailing today. At that period 1854, farmers would drive Tn from East Great Plain, or Salem, or Montville with produce to be exchanged for store goods, so that variety of stock had to be kept on hand from the first. This was demonstrated in the firms advertisement in 1856. after Mir. Fran cis had taken his nephew. the late J. Perry Francis, into partnership with him, when the firm offered domestic dry goods, Yankee notions, icrockery, grocer ies and provisions" At an earlier date the firm sold boots and shoes. Ss
 After the death of J. Perry Francis. [ in 1891. Alvah Francis took his son, George Fred Francis into the business. the firm name reading A. Francis & Son., The senior partner died in 1899. at i the age of 76. In addition to carrying on his business he had served as second se- lectman of the town ofs Norwich. For years he had sung bass in the choir of the Central >-7shodist (now Trinity M
 church He was a man of principli and straIsA.. er honesty. who- be- lieved in giving his customers a square deals so that his store became known far and wide because of the reliability of
 It's stock and the honest representations lf the firm members and their clerks
 And clerks. by the way. appeared tc ike to stay ip, this particular store, In ? he old days, clerk who was paid q;
 ler week considered that he was getting T pretty nice. salary; but that was thu |, era, of such low prices that now they ap- pear almost humorous. For example here are some of the Items from a bil paid A. Francis & Son and dated JulJ 1 Ii, 1898: 1 b. butter, 30c,; l ID. coffee 35c; package rolled oats. 12c; 1-4 lbs sugar. 25c; at. rnolasses. 13c: ID l tea, soc; I tlb. lard. Toe; codfsh. 12c, l 1 at. beans, 10c; 1-4 lb. soda. s3c nut l megs, Sc; bbshel of corn, S0c, and & on. -S
 After e.. Fred Francis. whose home. fl \ at 2s Colt street. came into the manage rnent of the store, the clerks still kep { up the record of being long stayers. J 4 noAD. Cranston was with the Francis i firm over 13 years. Frank Smith. O 4 Ward street was a clerk there for Ii l years and his brother Edmund. remained I lF years, or over. Miss Margaret C Roarke continued with the firm as book keeper for period of fourteen years. \ The fact that q. F. Francis has beer in somewhat impaired health of late anC \ felt the need of a rest was his principa reason for selling out the business. add | ing another marked change to the nu merous changes which have left so fev of the old time merchants doing 'busi ness on Thames square.
 Attended W. n. c. Convention.
 Mrs. Annie l.. Rawson. president o
 Sedgwlcl Woman's Relief Corps, No. 1t
 Mrs. NJ. Florence Dean. Mrs. lola Blur
 strom and Mrs. Jayne Seed have returne
 from the w. R. c. convention, depart
 ment of Connecticut, which was held i Hartford this week.