The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-07-09
Webb Brothers Will
Expand Business to
Meet New Demands

(CnntlnueO from maze OueD
his brother in building their business
here until eight years ago when ne
retired.
The sale beginning Wednesday
will close out the entire dry goods
line to permit remodeling OF the
building ard to make room for q
complete new stock of furniture,
carpets, draperies, luggage, bedding
and household furnishings.~
In the remodeled buildino Webb
Brothers will give to Bismarck its
first modern funeral rarlor, beauti-
fully equipped.
Open on Main Ave.
The present business home at
Main and Fourth street will be re-
modelled to provide store room in two
stories and basement with front
of $50 feet IN Main avenue.
Looking back over his "A years OF
business here w. H. Webb today re-
called that business is not without
its UPS and d WINS. Webb brothers
came to Bismarck from Blairstown,
New Jersey, in 1884 opening q FUR
niture and under taking business in
q one-and- a-hGlf story building on q
site where The Bismarck Motor Co.
are now in business.
Faces Crop Failure i
In 1889 there was a complete
crop failure, money conditions were
bad and 1900 people left Bismarck
| in that season. Webb Brothers
bought and consolidated five furni-
| ture stocks at a time when every
business man doubted the future of
the Slope country and there was a
question in the mind of each wheth-
ed to stick or move.
In 1890 while they were remodel
ing their store building to two floors
and extending it from a depth Of Is
to a depth of 140 feet fire communi-
Gated to it FRI m another building
while it was under construction. The
building was a total loss and only
Is per cent of the merchandise was
saved.
Fire interrupts Plans
The firm reopened its business
in a block at the corner of Third
and Main street. The same veal
they bought the stock of dry good.
and carpets of Dan Eisenberg, WHIT
went to Chicago to become connect
ed with the organization of Siegel
Cooper & Co. Some time later the,
bought the 0. r. Barnes dry goods
stock and Mr.. Barnes and his organ
ization joined them. For five years
they had the only. dry goods stor'
in Bismarck cnd for IL years tn,
only furniture store between James
town and Glendive.
During these periods" said w. II
i. Webb today, I'VE found it hard t,
sell merchandise without competi
ton. When A. w. Lucas and Viii
liam O'Hare were contemplating
coming here to start dry good
store we welcomed them and toll,
J them if thew did not have sufficien
/ capital Webb Brothers stood read,
to back them.
when they opened for bushes
under the firm name of A. w. Luca
& Co., after their opening our bus
mess grew and theirs increased
proving the old axiom Of bushes
that competition is the life of trade
I'm the old days here the proprie
tor did more work than any Of hi
clerks. He worked with them i
s,lling merchandise. He was on tn
! job at q. m. The store closed At
p. m. After that the proprietor en-
tered up the looks or kept an en-
gagement with . travelling saiesma
. showing goods"
Active IN Public Work
IL Despite his business duties w. n
Webb found tine to engage in at
tivities Of service to his city, count
, and state.
/, He served the city one term q
. mayor, was q member of the old cit
council, eight ears chairman Of til
board Of county commissioner,
chairman Of the reform school boar
four years, president Of the Ass<
citation Of Commerce two years an
! always active for the welfare Of Bi.
: marck, despite the fact there WEI
, years when Webb Bros. volume wa
. nearly . half million.
Il In addition the firm had extensiy
, and profitable interests outside BIZ
marck. Mr.. Webb said today
liked to think that his firm has sper
u In Bismarck to ever 81 made her,
Il Real Estate Holdings
They built and uwn the stol
} building occupied by the Bergeso
) clothing store, the chain Of stores q
} Broadway between Fourth and Fiji
! streets. acquire. an interest in Il
> building occupied by the Richmor
: Bootery and Harris + Woodma,
: go, built the building occupied |
The Bismarck Motor Co. and Fol