Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-01-30
Peavey Clothing Co.
Boasts Of Long Period
|of Continuous Service

I'll HULL OOAO 0N1 VIC
Seventy years of business ia the
record of the Peavy Clothing Store
OF this city. which has been the
home OF thriving mems and boys
clothing establishment since 1854.
With the exception Of period of
ak months, this store has been run
ming continuously from the year
that Jacob Peavey started the con-
Germ up to the present day. The
few months that the store was closed
was when it changed hands among
the Peavy brothers. Unknown to
many WaterviIles citizens. one OF the
largest wholesale manufacturing
concerns for mems clothing began
right In this city. In building stu
ated where the Anterior Furniture
Co. Is now situated. This building
was remodeled by Jacob Peavy and
converted into both a wholesale and
retail store. The cloth was cut and
trimmed by skilled hands in the
building and then carried out to
iarmhouses in the country districts
around the city. where the farmers
wives sewed and made up the suits,
and other clothing articles. Many
Of the women of that day were skill
ed in the art OF tailoring. and could
easily make up pair of pants or n
coat and vest in Il short time. An
feature here was the fact
that this money received for max
Ing up the goods was the only real
money that those women ever saw.
Nearly all trading between the farm
ers and storckeepers was done in
the barter fashion. the merchants al
lowing them so many groceries or
other articles. for stated amount
Of the farm produce.
The teams delivering the unfinish-
ID cut goods would bring back the
suits and place them
for sale in the store or ship them
away to some buyer. probably retail
lealers In towns about this state.
Some Of the women In the homes
have been known to make up as
many as "A dozen pairs of pants in
week and the records show even
lore than these. AS the establish
nent grew to be known out of the
tate. some of the Peavy brothers
tarted manufacturing plant In
,oston and later, one was built In
he city OF New York. These houses
IRE now doing Il worldwide bust
less. the Hub concern specializing
n mems wearing apparel and the
Sew York house. making up boys
foods. The peavy Clothing Co. or
his city Is the only retail store In
he branch and handles the Peavy
lothing exclusively.
In the year 1877! the present build
ng was purchased by Jacob Peavy
nd remcdeled. Old records show
he plans. which were written out
or the contractor. George w. Orff.
N architect. on plain lined paper.
he specifications called for the
best care possible. for purifying
round the front windows. so rs to
make the outside view as attractive
$ possible" Every detail, essential
or the reinodeling of the OLD build
ny, was written on IL pages. from
he ornamental finishing or the
Kinney tops. to the plastering OF
he walls inside.
After Jacob Peavy died. the store
assed into the hands of n nephew,
orome Pcavy and later Marshall
'eavy took charge. managing 1t until
bout 10 years ago when George Ii.
'all, the present manager. came 10
Naterville from Boston, where he
ad learned the business ut the hub
AIR. Ball has seen
he business enlarge greatly since
e came and declares that each year.
more prosperous and busy.
Still Another Record
Another record for continuous SER
ice as clerk and assistant manager
, this city, is held by J. b. Childs
Tho has been clerking in the Peavs
tore since 1892, n period of 81 years
ir. Childs came to Waterville from
his home town. a grad.
ate of Pennington High school ana
tarted us clerk, working his way
, and learning the business 10
ERECTION. Customers still find MI
'hilds at the door. when they come
0 the store. always ready and Will
1g to help them in their SELECTION Q.
ONE article, polite and the maker
hundreds OF friends.
MIR. Ball produced some or the oiu
counts. that were very interest,"
,g, having laid in the basement OF
he store for over 60 years. A page
rom the sales account or 1871
bowed the sale of Eve overcoats 10
'aniel Woodman of Norridgewock
,r sill" The grade of these coats
as probably about tho same as tne
oats now selling for 80 and AZ ooi-
lrs.
In 1859, according to the books.
lrge account was carried on WIZ
firm in town under the name VI
laxham and Wing. OCTOBER IL. %
he same year, the sale OF eoas
ants and a hat, was recorueo' w
lr. Quimby, for s5.S7.
Among the many other concerns,
ut OF town. are registered tie names
Butts and Weymouth of Canaan
B. Boies and l.. p. Boies OF Snow,
cyan, l. II. Peav~ of Belfast anu
Amy others, In those days the DIG
houses done specna
ork for single customers. u -
,corded in the same book that IN
$50. DIR. Campbell Of Waterviile hao
pair Of pants and q vest made up
ON cloth that he furnished him.
III, the work of trimmer and max
q, costing $500. Another interest,"
q sale was that of an umbrella, TOT
cents to Captain Dingley.
but not all business In those DAYS
as done on a small scale for in the
book is recorded ss070.76 worth
business with Isaac Peavy at
cw York. and this covered only a
.ort period of time. Mr.. Childs
-, ~ recollected. that in a certain
M. M, when the woole1 mill at Vas
s. was overstocked, Jacob
NY went down to that town and
~. the entire stock on the store
0'u uocr for his own nrice-