The Bismarck tribune., 1931-09-30
Styles, However, Reflect Gay
Nineties' When Store
.i WAS Opened

In its 80 years in business in Bis
marck, the A. w. Lucas company has
experienced many and varied changes
In customers. merchandise, and busi-
ness methods.
Yet at the same time the large de-
partment store finds many conditions
much the same as they were at 8
o'clock on the morning of Sept 4,
1899. when Lucas and O'Hara opened
its doors for the first time.
The Lucas company will observe its
Sand anniversary with a large sale
Thursday, Friday and Saturday of this
week.
Basically, the merchandise business
has not changed much. The A. w.
Lucas company still must keep large
stock of merchandise on hand which
will meet the demand of the consum-
er. The stores service to customers
has been maintained at same high
standard established 81 years ago.
All changes made during the evolu-
ton of the store to modern. up-to-
date concern from the frontier estab-
lishment of 1899 have been made to
keep up with the times.
The store today handles much goods
which were not known In the days OF
its infancy. It's scope has expanded as
the city has grown. It's styles have
changed with the whims of its GUS
toners. It's business methods have
been improved in the interest of eff
cheney.
Two Men At Start
Only two men were needed to op-
crate the business in 1899. Today the
firm employs IS men and women re-
gularly and at times has employed as
many as 120 persons.
Thirty-two years ago, the company
was strictly q dry goods store. Today
It carries all the items Of the modern
department store.
In its infancy the institution had
what today would be considerd a COM
paratively small floor space. Today
the store occupies two full floors in a
building 100 feet by 140 feet in dimen-
sions with $4,000 square feet OF floor
space.
On its opening day, the Lucas and
O'1ara stock was valued at between
$4,000 and $4,000. Today the A. W..
Lucas company carries stock regularly
valued in excess of $150,000.
The store opened for business on a
cash basis. Today it Is operated on q
modern credit basis.
Old Styles Revived
Though stock has been greatly ex-
panded, present styles in women's
clothing show less contrast with the
gay nineties" than do business meth
DDS. Materials may be different, but
tho whimsical touches that made
fashions Of that day so dear to the
feminine heart, are here again.
Between the fitted and gored frock
Of 1898 with its leg o'mutton sleeves
and yards Of trimming, and its mod
ern counter part in the store today,
the difference Is that the present
styles are softer and more becoming.
A survey Of the Lucas company's
stock shows that fashions this season
will have color and individuality
brought about through gay bits OF
ribbon trimming, fur and feathers
Several dresses in the show cases in
dicate that the hustle may be with
US again before many months.
Opened by Lucas and O'Hara, the
store later passed into the sole own
ership Of A. w. Lucas, who operated
the business until his death in 1928.
In the fall Of 1923, A. w. Mundy. for
merly associated with large Mime
apolis department store, became man.
ager Of the store while it was being
operated by Otto Schemansky, now OF
5olen, as executor Of A. w. Lucas es-
tate. Mundy and his brother. E. O
Mundy, purchased the store in the fall
Of 1926.
A. w. Mundy Sole Owner
A. w. Mundy became sole owner o1
the company upon the death Of his
brother in April, 1880.
The building first occupied by thu
concern was built by @. B. Little, pres.
ident Of the First National Bank. or
Fourth st. between Main and Broad
way avenues, where the Harris ant
Woodmausee store Is located now.
In the early days Of Bismarck, OF
the property now occupied by tn
Lucas company, stood the famed Sew
enth Cavalry saloon, patrdnized b!
soldiers from Old Fort Lincoln as vel
as other pioneers. Those were tn
days Of six-shooters, gambling ant
carousing and the only business tn
place knew was that of furnishing
frontier pleasure"
Files Of the Bismarck Tribune TO
September, October, November, an
December, 1899, disclose many pionee
advertisements Of Lucas and O'dara
carrying Illustrations Of now obsolet
SIDE CHANCES