The Indianapolis times., 1933-12-04
STEWART STORE
ENDS CENTURY
IN BOOK TRADE
Established in 1888 When
Only 1000 Persons
Lived in City.

Fused with the civic history of the
city is Stewards, Inc, "A East Wash
ington street, now observing its CEN
tennial. Tracing its path back to
1888, days when indianapolis was
little more than a town growing out
of the crude wilderness, two foreign
ers from Cincinnati opened the
indianapolis book store.
The 1000 persons living in this
city apparently were more interested
in hewing a living than in absorb
ing book larnin," for during the
following twenty years there was an
almost annual change of owners.
The uneventful arrival of Samuel
Merrill, then state treasurer, in In
dianapoliS from Corydon in 1924
with the meager state library, was
the faint voice of culture that led
to the establishment of the book
store by Hubbard, Edmonds & Dun
bar.
Stewart Joins Firm
Mr.. Merrill became associated
with the store when G. B. Davis
purchased it and chose as his part
ners H. F. West and Mr.. Merrill.
This partnership was dissolved in
1858, when Mr.. Davis retired, leav-
ing the entire stock to Mr. West;
while Mr. Merrill withdrew to estab-
lish the Merrill -Meigs Company.
William Stewart, in the same year,
acquired third interest in the firm
and it became known as the West
and Stewart Company.
In subsequent years there were
many changes in partnership, but in
1885 the firm became Bowen, Mer-
rill & Co., located on the present
site of Wasson's department store.
The, store, and particularly Mr..
Merrill, was the torch for struggling
intellectual life Many hopeful au
thors and mentally curious citizens
came within the friendly circle for
animated discussion and guidance.
Fire swept through the store on
an eventful St. Patrick's day in 1890
and demolished the entire stock and
building. Several lives were lost.
Site Changed After Fire
The store was rebuilt across the
street and the leisurely visits OF
writer's and celebrities continued.
Meredith Nicholson recalls the days
when he, James Whitcomb Riley and
Booth Harrington would gather
about the pleasant glow Of an open
fire to plan stories and poems. G. T,
Dollarhide was regarded by them
as the ultimate authority on litera-
ture, and to him they eagerly would
come at the store for information,
The concern became the Bobbs-
Merrill Company in 1903 when Will
liam Bobbs became a partner There
came from Yale about this time
William Kerfoot Stewart, lover of
books. In 1909 the firm was again
divided and the retail end was sold
to. Mr.. Stewart.
The Bobbs- s-Merrill Company be-
came solely a publishing house, and
under the sign of the lantern, the
w. K. Stewart Company was estab-
lished at ell East Washington
street in the old line of retail books
and stationery.
Today, following another fire in
1913, the firm is located at A East
Washington street with George T.
Parry, president, and Everett F. Ag-
new, manager, under the name of
Stewards Inc.
Bible Is Best Seller
Living long in the lore of books,
the employees have come to regard
books as personalities. Some of
them are like temperamental &C
tresses, flaming and tempestuous.
others similar to great religious
leaders, solemn and sincere, sug-
gesting panaceas for a troubled
world. Others again are like the
soul of poet, moody with the
pain of disillusionment. Then there
is the robust sportsman, the pert
debutante, the whimsical gentle
man of leisure and the prattling
comedian.
Authors themselves have changed
throughout the years. according to
Mr.. Agnew. The hustle of keeping
their names constantly before the
public has necessitated lecture tours
and restless hours scribbling words
Strangely enough, or perhaps nat
urally enough, the Bible leads the
list of best sellers. The poetry and
fascinating history written by He
brew prophets and disciples still has
lure unapproached by other works