Evening star., 1960-01-03

DecoraLlonS ana displays
1860 will set the celebration tn
1t was in. 1860 that the brot
ington from neighboring Bal
timore. ~.
The two ambitious young
men started their little business
on the second floor of a build
ing that housed a bank. And
then they began to grow.
From that time on their story
was one of steady growth and
today their immediate descend
ants have carried the Lans-
burgh mercantile name to the
expanding community and to
new dimensions.
Came to U. s. in 1884
There are three Lansburgh's
stores today--the main down.
town store on Seventh street
NV, another in Langley Park.
Nd, and a new branch In
Shirlington. Va.
Gustav Lansburgh came to
Baltimore in 1884 from Ham,
burg. Germany. and his first
Job in America was as a clerk
in a dry goods store. Soon he
had saved enough-and learned
enough Of the lands opportu-
nities-to start his own business
along with his brother James.
They opened their store next
door to Gustav's former en-
ployer-and prospered.
Soon they had enough saved
to try their business luck in the
Nations CAPITAL. A century
ago-with the Civil War near
at hand - Washington was
about to expand with a burst.
And expansion was to be the
key to the Lansburgh brothers
success. !
The first store was a far cry
from today's modern depart
ment store. It was called a
fancy goods agency" and
there the two young men sold
handkerchiefs. socks and sim
liar items to the small neigh
borhood stores in the city.
They had rented two rooms at
what was then 1922 c street
NV, above the Bank of Wash
!nPton.
In 1863 they opened a small
retail store at 735 Seventh |
street. They called it "Lans-
burgh g. Brothers. Baltimore
Bargain House" in the follow
ing years a number Of moves
were made to bigger quarters
in the same vicinity. BY 1866 |
the stores name took on a new |
focus-Lansbureh & Brothers
Metropolitan Dry Goods Store
Gustav Lansburgh was a
colorful figure. He did most of /
the buying for the business.
One year he purchased a ton
of buttons but during shipment
many had become loosened
from their cards. He hit on an
idea.
All the buttons were torn of
their cards and we're shoveled
into a large bin. He advertised
a special sale--a quart Of but
tons for cents and take your
pick. II was a huge success.
In 1882 the store was moved
to 42O Seventh street. the site
that is part of the present
store. There the brothers in
stalled the first commercial
elevator in Washington.
Gustav died in 1911 and
James died in 1917. But the
foundation thev built was still
being expanded bv their heirs.
In 1925 the large department
store structure was erected that /
now stands at the Seventh |
street site.
Known For Philanthropy
One Of the colorful descen-
dants of the elder Gustav was
a son who became known as
"Call-me-H Henry" That was his
card and mail would be deliv-
cred to him If that was the let
ters' only form Of address. He
was a potentate of Almas
Temple Shrine. He was known
for his philanthropy and his
knack for public relations. /
Sol Lansbureh and Mrs.
Charles Goldsmith. presently .
members Of the firm, are chill
dren of Gustav Lansburgh. Mrs.
Goldsmith's son. Ralph. is pres
ident of the firm.
The anniversary will be OBJ
served today with an open
house for employees and their
families. On Tuesday the Ad-
vertising Club of Washington
will salute the firm at a lunch /
con when Samuel H. Kauff-
mann, president of The Evening
Star Newspaper Co., will make
the main address. 1t will be
be held at the Presidential Arms
at 1920 G street NV, at 1890 /
pm.
At Lansburgh's itself there
will be old-fashioned gas lights,
specially drawn murals of scenes
Of the 1860s, and figures dressed
in costumes Of that day.
Thus, with a reminder of the
past, Lansburgh'S continues to