A postcard of Media's School from about 1906
Media 125 years ago, Part two
THE CHARTER HOUSE – The Charter House, Media’s only
permanent hotel, has become known as one of the best in the State. Commercial travelers, who stop at the house,
say they find new hotels to equal it in towns of four or five thousand
population. It is a temperance hotel
suited to families and to quiet and temperate people. Many Philadelphians make the place their home
a good part of the open season, the head of the family going and returning from
business in the city daily. The hotel is
within eight minutes’ walk of Media station, and six express trains and
nineteen accommodation trains run to and from Broad Street station daily. The terminus of the road in Philadelphia at
present is at Thirty-First and Chestnut Streets, but after April 1st
they will run to Broad Street. The
express trains make the trip in about twenty-five minutes, and the
accommodation trains in about forty minutes.
The hotel is also within a minute’s walk of the starting place of the
new trolley road to Chester, on which a car arrives and leaves every half hour.
HOW
ESTABLISHED – The Charter House was started by a stock company in 1851,
composed of the advocates and friends of temperance. When the court house and jail were removed
from Chester at that time, there was no hotel in Media for the accommodated of
people attending court, and owing to the borough charter prohibiting the sale
of liquor, no one would undertake the experiment of running a house on the temperance
plan, it being generally regarded at that time as an impossibility.
But
the friends of temperance took the matter in hand and organized a stock
company, built the house and put R. D. Hawkins to charge. The latter conducted it successfully for over
twenty years, and in 1871 he built Idlewild, the fashionable hotel near Media,
now managed by his sons, John and Alfred Hawkins.
Since
Mr. Hawkins's time the Charter House has had four or five different
proprietors. Isaac Ivison, who was
proprietor from 1882 until February of this year, did a great deal toward
bringing the House up to its present high standards.
Mr.
Samuel D. Hughes, the present proprietor, who has recently taken charge comes
from Lebanon. He is well up to the hotel
business and is always studying the information of his guests and seeking to
make his house the equal of the best.
THE
HOTEL BUILDING – The building is a four-story brick structure, 50x 50 feet in
size, with man sand roof and large double verandahs in front. It contains sixty-four rooms, thirty-seven of
which are bedrooms, and throughout the whole house neatness and cleanliness are
everywhere apparent.
The
entire building is furnished with electric light. The light is in every room and even in the
stables and wagon houses connected with the house.
The
accommodations for families at the house are excellent. The sleeping departments are well ventilated
and the whole house is kept in admirable order.
The
dining room is on the first floor and the inner man can be refreshed without
taking many weary steps. On the tables
are served the substantial’s, as well as all the delicacies of the season. The bill of fare is excellent and have given
it an established reputation.
Mr.
Hughes is a gentleman, ever ready to adopt any new appliance, or convenience in
his business. He keeps a personal
supervision over everything in the house, and is ably assisted by Mrs. Hughes
and her daughters.
CHALFONT’S
LIVERY STABLE – Isaac D. Chalfont is Media’s leading livery stable keeper. He has been engaged in the livery sale and
exchange business here for a quarter of a century. At one time he conducted his business at the
Charter House stables. Mr. Chalfont's
patronage especially in the summer season, is large. He started in a limited way, but by careful
attention to the wants of the public and by thrift and economy, he has built up
an extensive business and his establishment is surpassed by few in the
county. Some of his turnout are of the finest,
and most stylish description, and he also has some finer ones with horses which
any lady can drive with safety. These
horses are well broken and an accident or runaway by any of them is almost
unknown. He keeps about thirty head
constantly. His stables at the corner of
state and Jackson Streets, are almost as complete as they can be made. Chalfont's line of coaches, from the depot,
is a great convenience to the Media people, and they are carried to any part of
the borough for ten cents.
He
takes a lively interest in the affairs of the town and has served as the County
Council two terms and does good work.
MUSICAL
INSTRUMENTS – It is a well-known fact that in the purchase of a piano, organ or
sewing machine, the purchaser must rely to a considerable extent, on the
judgment and honor of the dealer, as fine appearing instruments and machines
are not always the best. The adage, “all
that glitters is not gold” will apply here with much force.
It
is fortunate for the people of Delaware County that they have in Media an
establishment devoted to the handling of musical instruments and sewing
machines that is reliable and can be depended upon with the utmost confidence.
We
refer to the house of Walter T. Howell, now located at No. 1167 State Street,
the building occupied for years by Russell & Company, the clothiers. This stand was taken only recently by Mr.
Howell in order to obtain more room and better facilities for his increasing
business.
He
has had a valuable experience in the business in which he is engaged, and
keeping a large stock on hand, can furnish almost any kind of a musical
instrument with a Jews harp to a piano.
His specialty in the piano line is the Lester and New England, and in
organs the Bridgeport. These instruments
have a wide reputation for purity and variety of tone, and as to durability
they are unexcelled.
The
Seger sewing machine, which Mr. Howell handles in Media, is without an equal
and is a universal favorite all over the civilized world. Over a hundred are sold every year from this
store alone. The fine set of attachments
with the new Singer are far in advance of anything in the market and make it
capable of the widest range of work with the least trouble.
The
business was established by Mr. Howell in 1885 and he has been steadily
forgoing to the front ever since.
Besides his store at Media he has one similarly at large at Norristown
and does a trade extending all over Montgomery County. He is an active, go ahead young businessman,
and his success won by hard work and close attention, is well deserved.
AN
ENTERPRISING MERCHANT – The enterprising business men of Media believe that the
trolley road will bring more trade to Media than it will take away, and they
are preparing to accommodate it. T.
Edwin Rorer, owner of the market at the corner of Front and Jackson Streets and
the largest grocery and provision store at the corner of Washington and Orange
Streets, is one of this number. His
prices for the same quality of goods are as low as any similar store in
Chester, and he says the trolley is not taking trade away from him but bringing
new customers every day, and he finds that within the past four weeks his sales
have been on the increase.
Consumers
of groceries, provisions and meats must be indeed hard to please if they cannot
find what they want at the Rorer stores.
The stock is always full and complete, everything fresh and in almost
every line. Mr. Rorer is selling at
Chester and Philadelphia prices.
T.
Edwin Rorer has been established in Media since 1877, and from the start he did
a large and growing trade. He first
opened a modest and unpretentious way on Orange Street, next to Rice’s
bakery. He offered here the best of
goods at city prices, and it was not long before the place became too
small. It was so crowded on Saturday
nights that it was impossible to get waited upon.
More
room became a necessity, and in 1885 he erected the present large and
commodious store at the corner of Washington and Orange Streets, the most
complete in the borough. It is a double
building, and the store has double doors and a front of forty feet on Orange
Street.
The
business continuing to grow, in 1890, three years ago, the market on Front
Street was erected, in order to accommodate the people of the upper part of the
town. It has all the latest and modern
conveniences and the best in the provision and meat line are always on its
shelves and shambles.
The
proprietor of these enterprises is not only a go-ahead, active business man,
but a public spirited one as well, and since he first came to Media, has taken
a deep interest in the growth, prosperity and improvement of the place.
There
is nothing of the clam in Ned Rorer’s make up.
He is serving his second term now as councilman, and his voice in that
body has always been for progress. He
was one of the first to advocate electric lights, paved streets and trolley
cars to Chester, all of which have been brought about during his term in
Council. The large new brick buildings
erected by him in his business are a credit to the town. His example in this respect was followed by
others in the erection of business houses, which have added greatly to the
architectural beauty of the place.
In
his large business Mr. Rorer is aided by a number of tried and efficient
assistants. At the Orange Street store
George Smith is manager and the market on Front Street is in charge of William
W. Woodward. The large business,
however, is constantly under the supervision of the proprietor.
SHORTLIDGE
MEDIA ACADEMY – The Shortlidge Media Academy is Media’s leading educational
institution. It has a reputation for the
thoroughness of its instruction, and will compare favorably with the best
preparatory schools in the land.
The
school was established by Professor Swithin C. Shortlidge in 1875, and had been
continuously and most successfully conducted by him as proprietor until the
past year, when, owing to the unfortunate outcome of certain real estate
purchases, apart from the school property, he became financially embarrassed,
and the successful career of the institution was crippled to some extent.
The
institution at present is on a solid footing.
The entire school property, consisting of grounds, buildings and all
equipment, has now passed into the ownership and control of the “Media Academy
Company,” and with an excellent patronage the school is rapidly regaining all
of it lost by the failure. Its former high
standard will not only be maintained, but promises to be surpassed.
Professor
Shortlidge, who is one of the incorporators, and a member of the board of
trustees, is still in charge as principal.
He is relieved of the purely business and financial management by the
Media Academy Company, which will supply all necessary funds for the proper
conduct of the school. The other members
of the board of trustees are: Henry C.
Howard, president, the well-known attorney and president of the Delaware County
Trust Company Thomas J. Haldeman, president of the First National Bank of
Media; and Dr. Evan G. Shortlidge, a prominent physician of Wilmington,
Del. All are financially interested in
the institution, and are all gentlemen of the highest standing.
The
school buildings occupy a prominent site near the eastern end of the
borough. They are thoroughly equipped
with all the necessary educational apparatus, while the domestic appliances are
such as to render the life of the student as home like as possible. Every care will be taken to guard the health
of the students, and to minister to their personal comforts, both of which are
so essential to proper intellectual work and development.
The
location of the school is unsurpassed.
There are no saloons in Media, the charter of the town prohibiting the
sale of liquor, and temptations of this kind, so common in other towns, are
removed. The health of the place is
proverbial, and a case of sickness in the institution is very rare indeed.
Hereafter
the property will be devoted exclusively to school purposes, and during the
summer vacations will be thoroughly renovated and put in order for the coming
school year.
The
buildings have accommodated over one hundred boys, but in order to avoid
crowding, with the consequent danger of neglect, it has been determined to
limit the number to sixty. This will
afford ample room for every student will conduce to the preservation of good
health, and will enable the corps of instructors to on their work much more
thoroughly than it can possibly be done in a larger school.
Media
Academy has always been regarded as one of the best schools of its class in the
country. From its halls have gone forth
those who have made for themselves enviable reputations and honorably filed
many high stations in life. Its students
have come from every part of the United States and even from Mexico and South America.
Professor
Shortlidge stands in the front rank of successful educators and
disciplinarians. He is a graduate of
Harvard and has had a continuous experience in the practice of teaching of more
than twenty years many of the best equipped students for Harvard, Yale,
Princeton and other colleges, made their preparation for entering under his
tuition.
Among
the scholars from a distance at present receiving instruction at the
institution the leading cities and towns are represented.
A
HORSE GOODS HOUSE – Someone has said that the most perplexing and bothersome
thing in connection with those who own or handle horses is a poor set of
harness, and this is certainly true. A
poor harness can never be depended upon.
You never know when it may break or give way in some vital point. Many serious or fatal accident might have
been averted had the harness been of good quality, such as could be depended
upon in time of need. The horse owner
who makes Media his trading point need never be bothered by a poor set of
harness if he makes his purchases in this line of the house of H. D. Pratt,
State and Jackson Streets. An inferior
quality of harness or horse goods, never sees the inside of this old established
and popular house.
Mr.
Pratt established his present business in Media in 1874, and during the past
nineteen years he has built up a large trade, his patronage being constantly on
the increase. He is a practical workman
himself, and from the fact that he thoroughly understands the manufacture of
all goods handled, and will make nothing but honest goods is accounted his
success. All the work turned out by him
is handmade, no machine work of any kind being on hand in the establishment.
The
large store room is well stocked with the best line of harness, saddles,
bridles, whips, robes, dusters, and in fact, all kinds of horse furnishing
goods. Mr. Pratt does a large trade
among teamsters and farmers and keeps on hand, of his own make, a large
assortment of single and double harness suitable for heavy draft and farming
purposes. He carefully examines all
stock, uses nothing but the best of leather and watches to see that it is made
just right. It is only necessary to
state that a piece of work came from his establishment to satisfy all of its good
and lasting qualities.
Mr.
Pratt is not only a successful business man, and progressive in his ideas, but
is also one of our most useful citizens.
At present he is a member of the Board of Inspectors of the Delaware
County prison, an office to which he was appointed three years ago. Socially he
is a genial and pleasant companion, always full of life and good natured humor,
and is a man with many friends and few enemies.
WEST
CHESTER STEAM LAUNDRY – There is nothing which is as essential to the peace of
mind of the average man or woman as the artistic smooth laundering of their
linen and household goods. A thorough
painstaking establishment soon becomes known and popular and is as much as any
other business a convenience and a comfort.
Such
an establishment, in an eminent degree, is the West Chester Steam Laundry of which
Messrs. McFarland & Reynolds, are the proprietors. In Media the headquarters of the landing is
at Russell & Co.’s clothing store and George F. Messick’s gent’s furnishing
store in Chester. The clothes are
usually sent away on Tuesday evening and returned Friday evening of the same
week.
All
who have tried the West Chester laundry are loud in their praises of its
work. It is clean, tidy and systematic,
and speaks for itself and needs no recommendation. Specimens of the work which have come under
our observation are as carefully and beautifully laundered as it is possible
for them to be really looking as fresh, smooth and clean as new; not plastered
over and lumpy with starch, soiled with iron stains, and streaked with dirt,
but all clean and inviting looking.
The
premises of the West Chester Steam Laundry are in West Chester in the Post
Office building. The establishment is
most thoroughly and completely filled up with the latest laundry machinery and
devices known, and only the best soaps, bluing and starch in the market are
issued on the clothing.
The
enterprise of Messrs. MacFarland and Reynolds was started in August 1891, and
the patronage from the outset was good and is steadily growing. By establishing agencies in other towns
surrounding West Chester, the business is made to cover a wide field and it is
constantly on the increase. The firm are
careful in handling the goods and returning them, and such a thing as a lost
article or garment is very rare indeed.
Give it a trial and be convinced.
WILLIAMSON’S
SONS – A very important establishment and one of the most solid and staple
business houses of Media is that of Charles R. Williamson’s Sons, lumber and
cola dealers whose large yards are located near the Media depot.
It
is one of the largest concerns of the kind anywhere in the vicinity of Media
and was established by Charles R. Williamson, one of Media’s pioneer residents
and business men, father of the present proprietors. The sons, William E. and C. Frank Williamson,
are the members of the firm who have succeeded to the business, and they are
conducting it is a way to keep up the high reputation of the place for fair
dealing and reliability.
The
firm deals extensively in all kinds of building lumber and other building
material and they supply most of the builders in Media and vicinity. They also deal in hard woods and in all lines
they keep a large stock. The yard
occupied is well arranged for the business and has ample shedding and
convenient piling grounds. The house has
every advantage for keeping and handling a large quantity of lumber, and they
are enabled to fill almost any bill on sight.
Most
of the coal in stock is kept under cover, a siding from the railroad running
into the coal sheds where the coal is dumped.
The firm handles thousands of tons in a season and keep the best and
sell at the lowest prices. They have
excellent facilities for handling coal, and the attention they have given this
department, and their fair dealing with customers, have given them a large and
substantial patronage.
The
members of the firm give their individual personal attention to the
business. They are pushing and energetic
and ever on the alert in secure desirable trade. Both are young men held in high esteem by the
people of Media, where they have been born and have resided all their
lives. Their father, Charles R.
Williamson, came to Media in 1831, when the town consisted of only a few
scattered houses. He retired from
business a few years ago after an honorable business career of nearly forty
years, and now resides in a handsome residence on Orange Street.
SMEDLEY’S
DRUGSTORE – Albert W. Smedley, the owner of the neat and attractive drug store
on State Street, opposite the Charter House, is a young man who came from
Chester a year ago to grow up with the town.
He brought with him some new ideas in the drug line and he was not long
in introducing them to the advantage of the place.
His
store is located on the main avenue of the town. It is very complete in all its appointments
and contains a full stock of drugs and chemicals, besides a line of fancy goods
and toilet articles. Mr. Smedley, although
quite a young man, is a thorough druggist and pharmacist, a graduate of the
Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and an excellent judge of the brand or quality
of everything in his line. He has
several remedies of his own compounding that have merit and are in demand. His place is the headquarters for soda water
and other refreshing drinks, and on warm summer nights his store is
crowded. To add to the attractive and
showy appearance of his store he has an illuminated pestle, planted on a pole
in the front pavement, and when the electric lights are on, its’ bright
dazzling colors can be seen for a long distance.
In
conducting the business he is assisted by Mr. George T. Lambert, Pa. as
clerk. The business is gradually on the
increase and Mr. Smedley says he finds that the trolley brings more to Media,
in his line, than he takes away.
AN
EXTENSIVE ESTABLISHMENT – Occupying a stretch of ground and a big group of
buildings among the line of the Media Railroad, some distance west of Media
station, is the large plant of John J. Williams & Co. The business established eight years ago, has
grown to be the most extensive concern of the kind in Delaware County.
The
pace was started as a feed store and coal yard in a limited way and has grown
steadily. Many departments have from
time to time been added and a large grain elevator and a steam grist mill
erected, where the firm receive their feed and grain shipments, grind grain and
also do grist work for the neighboring farmers.
The shipments of grain and feed are all received and weighted on
Fairbank’s standard railroad track scales and the shovel into immense hoppers
and elevated to the various parts of the building. Oft times they unload half a dozen cars of
grain a day. The firm, in their large
warehouses, keep constantly on hand hundreds of tons of feed, grain, hay,
straw, lime and fertilizers and are always prepared to fill the largest
orders. Their trade is with contractors
and builders, farmers, dairymen and horse and stock owners of the surrounding
country, and in addition they have an extensive and desirable coal trade, and
with two or three men constantly on the road, soliciting orders and collecting,
they cover a wide field. In all
departments about twenty-five men are employed and some thirty horses are
required in the delivery wagons and with men of the road.
YARD
AND BUILDINGS – A visit to the place and a look over the grounds and buildings
is sufficient to impress one with the fact that it is one of the county’s
leading industries, five acres are required to accommodate the buildings and
material kept in stock.
The
buildings on the property include the grain elevator, the steam grist mill a
grain and feed warehouse with a capacity of over 300 hundred tons of feed and
70,000 bushels of grain; a building for phosphates, liners and fertilizers,
another for hay and straw and still another for agricultural machinery, an
important department of the business, and one that is yearly on the
increase. Then, there are the long
lumber and coal sheds and ten cottages occupied by the employees of the
establishment.
The
big concern with its varied stock represents eight years of active work and
painstaking attention to business. In
all their dealings the firm has made it a point to adhere to strict business principles,
and as a result the establishment grew in all its branches.
THE
COAL USED – The location of the plant could not be improved upon. The tracks of the West Chester and Philadelphia
Railroad run into the yard, thus affording the best receiving and shipping
facilities. The coal is all under cover
and care taken to keep the best article in stock and to deliver it free from
slate and dirt. The firm receive regular weekly shipments of Jedde, Honeybrook,
Spring Mountains, Hazleton, Latimer and Mores coals acknowledged to be the best
in the market. The coal trains are
constantly on the go and the yearly output of the yard in black nuggets is
enormous.
THE
BEST OF LUMBER – The lumber department is stocked with several hundred
thousands of feet of the best building lumber and hard woods. The stock is received in large consignments
from the lumber regions of this State and Michigan. It is prepared in the drying house and the
best seasoned lumber can always be obtained here at any season of the
year. The firm does business with all
the builders in Media and vicinity. A
walk among the big piles of lumber at the yard gives only a faint idea of the
business done. Numerous piles, representing
many thousands of dollars, are here seasoning; but these piles are constantly
being leveled by the steady stream of orders, and new wooden pyramids take
their places.
The
large stock in all departments enables the firm to sell on the best and most
advantageous terms. They can furnish
almost anything in the agricultural implement line, and always have the best of
all kinds of machines and tools in stock. In the fertilizer line, they handle
Thomas Baugh’s and Shoemaker’s phosphates, known among farmers everywhere as
the guacos that makes big crops.
THE
HEAD OF THE CONCERN – The business of the large concern is managed by John J.
Williams, who although a young man, is already well-known in business
circles. He is energetic and always
pushing ahead, and ever on the alert to make new business. He has mastered all the details of the large
plant and conducts the affairs of the firm with marked ability. He is constantly on hand and every department
has his supervision and directions. He
conducts the business in such a way as to hold the customers and he is
constantly making new ones. All are
treated fairly and this is a nutshell explains the growth and tremendous
business of the establishment.
JEWELER
EMIL HALL - The leading jewelry house of Media is the well-known establishment
of E. Hall, whose large and modern built store is located at the corner of
State and Orange Streets, the most prominent part of the borough.
The
success of this house during the time it has been in existence furnished an
illustration of what may be done by energy industry and intelligent business management. Mr. Gall commenced business in Media the year
1877 in a limited way and opened out in a little store on Orange Street with a
small case of watches and other jewelry.
But he came to stay, and as he made it an aim to please, his customers,
his trade gradually increased until it has grown to be one of the largest and
most important establishments of the kind in Delaware County.
The
present attractive and convenient building was erected especially for the
business in 1800 under Mr. Hall’s direction.
It is twenty feet front by sixty-seven feet deep, and is three stories
in height. It had three large plate
glass show windows for the display of goods, which are at all times filled with
the same, and which, especially under the electric lights, from one of the most
attractive features to passersby in that part of the town.
The stock
embraces all kinds of jewelry, watches, clocks, silverware, spectacles, etc.,
and is very large and elegantly displayed.
The best makes of gold and silver watches are kept in stock. Every watch sold is warranted, and if not
satisfactory after a trial is exchanged.
In stock also are clocks of every grade, also necklaces, bracelets,
breast pins, car rings, studs, neck chains and watch chains of every grade and
variety.
The
silver plated ware displayed in the large side cases in the store is very
fine. Some of the new designs are
elegant, that for table service being especially worthy of mention. The entire stock will compare favorably with
most of the Philadelphia retail establishments.
There
have been about a half dozen other jewelry houses started in Media during the
past two decades, but most of them had a brief existence. Mr. Hall’s business today is in a more
flourishing condition than ever before.
His large trade is practically due to his being an attentive and pushing
business man, but more particularly to the fact that he deals only in the best
quality of goods. He is one of Media’s
wide-awake citizens and is always among the first to advocate any improvement
that will advance the interests of the place.
RUSSELL
& CO. CLOTHIERS – William Russell & Co., the enterprising clothiers and
furnishing goods dealers of Media, in their new building on State Street, have
one of the best lighted and most complete establishments of the kind in the
county.
The
building was erected especially for the business of Russell & Co., the old
building further up the street having become entirely too small. It has an ornate front of buff brick and is
20 x 73 feet in size. The large
salesroom occupies the entire first floor and includes in the immense stock
here on hand nearly everything in the line of gentlemen’s wearing apparel. The new spring goods, including the latest
patterns, are very neat and arranged on the tables or in the big show window,
make a very attractive display. They
have recently added a merchant tailoring department to the business, and the
best cloth from European and American looms, is on hand and from which suits
are made to order and guaranteed to fit.
The
firm also carry a large line of the latest styles in soft, stiff , felt and
silk hats, and gentlemen’s dress and working shirts, underwear, collars, cuffs,
suspenders, hosiery , handkerchiefs, gloves and furnishing goods of every
description, together with umbrellas traveling bags and satchels.
The
house was established in 1871 by William Russell, the present senior member,
and has always been regarded as one of the most reliable. The firm name was changed to Russell &
Co. in 1887, when B. T. Levis, a brother-in-law of Mr. Russell, and an active
young business man, was admitted to a partnership.
Besides
conducting their large business the firm also have charge of the telegraph and
telephone exchange in Media, their offices being in the rear of the big store.
A
SUCCESSFUL VETERINARY – Dr. Thomas D. Young, the popular and busy veterinary
surgeon of Media, and at present a member of the borough council, is a man you
will always find on the move. His life
is an active one owing to demands for his service in his profession.
Dr.
Young was born in Philadelphia, but afterwards, as a boy, resided in Upper
Darby, Marple, Newtown and Radnor Townships this county. He came to Media in 1871 and has been a
resident here ever since. He followed
the occupation of horse shoer until 1877 when he commenced to study medicine in
the veterinary profession under Dr. Robert McClure, a graduate of the renowned
college at Edinburg, Scotland.
In 1841 Dr. Young passed a
successful examination before the Board of Censors of the Pennsylvania College
of Veterinary Surgeons of Philadelphia, and shortly after began the practice of
his profession in Delaware County. He
has schooled under his charge two pupils Dr. Samuel Mathues, located at
Concord, and Dr. Edward J. Young a brother in Chester both of which young men
are meeting with success.
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS – It is well
known fact that in the purchase of a piano, organ or sewing machine, the
purchaser must rely to a considerable extent, on the judgment and honor of the
dealer, as fine appearing instruments and machines are not always the
best. The adage “all that glitters is
not gold” will apply here with much force.
It is fortunate for the people
of Delaware County that they have in Media an establishment devoted to the
handling of musical instruments and sewing machines that is reliable and can be
dependent upon with the utmost confidence.
We refer to the house of Walter
T. Howell, now located at No. 116 State Street, the building occupied for years
by Russell & Company, the clothiers. This stand was taken only recently by
Mr. Howell in order to obtain more room and better facilities for his
increasing business.
He has had a valuable experience
in the business in which he is engaged, and keeping a large stock on hand, can
for also almost any kind of a musical instrument from a Jews harp to a
piano. His specialty in the piano line
is the Lester and New England, and in organs, the Bridgeport. These instruments have wide reputation for
purity and variety of tone, and as to durability they are unexcelled.
The Singer sewing machine, which
Mr. Howell handles in Media, is without an equal and is a universal favorite all
over the civilized world. Over a hundred are sold every year from this store
alone The fine set of attachments with the new Singer are far in advance of
anything in the market and make it capable of the widest range of work with the
least trouble.
The business was established by
Mr. Howell in 1885 and he has been steadily forging to the front ever
since. Besides his store at Media he has
one similarly at large as Norristown and does a trade extending all over
Montgomery County. He is an active, go
ahead young businessman, and his success, won by hard work and close attention
is well deserved.
AN ENTERPRISING MERCHANT – The
enterprising businessmen of Media believe that the trolley road will bring more
trade to Media than it will take away, and they are preparing to accommodate
it. T. Edwin Rorer, owner of the market
at the corner of Front and Jackson Streets and the large grocery and provision
store at the corner of Washington and Orange Streets, is one of this
number. His prices for the same quality
of goods are as low as any similar store in Chester, and he says the trolley is
not taking trade away from him but bringing new customers every day, and he
finds that within the past four weeks his sales have been on the increase.
Customers of groceries,
provisions and meats must be indeed hard to pleaser if they cannot find what
they want at the Rorer stores. The stock
is always full and complete, everything fresh and in almost every line, Mr.
Rorer is selling at Chester and Philadelphia prices.
T. Edwin Rorer has been
established in Media since 1877, and from the start he did a large and growing
trade. He first opened in a modest and
unpretentious way on Orange Street, next to Rice’s bakery.
SHORTLIDGE MEDIA ACADEMY – The
Shortlidge Media Academy is Media’s leading educational institution. It has a reputation for the thoroughness of
its instruction, and will compare favorably with the best preparatory schools
in the land.
The school was established by
Professor Swithin C. Shortlidge in 1875, and had been continuously and most
successfully conducted by him as proprietor until the past year, when, owing to
the unfortunate outcome of certain real estate purchases, apart from the school
property he became financially embarrassed and the successful career of the
institution was crippled to some extent.
The institution at present is on
a solid footing. The entire school
properly, consisting of grounds, buildings and all equipment has now passed
into the ownership and control of the “Media Academy Company,” and with an
excellent patronage the school is rapidly regaining all it lost by the failure. His former high standard will not only be
maintained, but promises to be surpassed.
Professor Shortlidge, who is one
of the incorporators and a member of the board of trustees, is still in charge
as principal. He is relieved of the
purely business and financial Management by the Media Academy Company, which
will supply all necessary funds for the proper conduct of the school. The other members of the board of trustees
are: Henry C. Howard, president, the
well-known attorney and president of the Delaware County Trust Company; Thomas
J> Haldeman, president of the First National Bank of Media; and Dr. Evan G.
Shortlidge, a prominent physician of Wilmington, Del.
A HORSE GOODS HOUSE – Someone
has said that the most perplexing and bothersome thing in connection with those
who own or handle horses is a poor set of harness, and this is certainly
true. A poor harness can never be
depended upon. You never know when it
may break or give way in some vital point.
Many a serious or fatal accident might have been averted had the harness
been of good quality, such as could be depended upon in time of need. The horse owner who makes Media his trading
point need never be bothered by a poor set of harness if he makes his purchases
in this line of the house of H. D. Pratt, State and Jackson Streets. An inferior quality of harness, or horse goods, never sees the inside of this old
established and popular house.
Mr.
Pratt established his present business in Media in 1874, and during the past
nineteen years he has built up a large trade, his patronage being constantly on
the increase. He is a practical workman
himself, and from the fact that he thoroughly understands the manufacture of
all goods handled, and will make nothing but honest goods is accounted his
success.
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