The "The First 5&10 Cent Store In The World" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Clicked on my e-file labeled "Woolworth" which I have been collecting for the past three years.  In 2015 I wrote a very brief story telling about Frank Woolworth and his first successful 5 & 10 cent store in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  Over the past couple of years I have been able to collect over twenty-five photographs of that building that was located at 19-21 North Queen Street.  Mr. Woolworth began his career in retail sales when he opened a small store in New York.  Wasn't long before it failed.  He then opened a store in Lancaster at 170 North Queen Street.  His idea was to open a store where the customers could pick up his merchandise and examine it before buying it rather than the retail model at the time of handing a clerk a list of items and having them gather the items for you.  His store in the second block of N. Queen was so successful that he decided to build what he called the Lancaster Skyscraper.  He hired C. Emlen Urban who designed it in 1900.  The building was constructed of steel, iron, stone and brick.  It was five stories high with a roof garden and two gold-domed towers that rose 45 feet into the sky.  The store closed in 1949 and was demolished, making room for what was said to be a bulk-standard concrete and glass superstore that stood at 19-21 North Queen Street until the late 1990s when it too was demolished, making room for an extension of a neighboring bank.  Follow the photos and advertisements I have been able to locate and see for yourself the rise and fall of one of the greatest stores in downtown Lancaster.

This store was located at 170 North Queen Street in downtown Lancaster.

An enlargement of the front of the store.

A postcard of the Woolworth Building at 19-21 N. Queen Street .  This building was designed by C. Emlen Urban and has five stories with the roof garden and gold domes on either side of the garden.

Another view of Woolworth's skyscraper with the 1st floor awnings extended.

Red Cross flags fly in front of the store. To the right is the McCrory's Department Store.

Interior of the store with customers shopping.

A dispenser for your choice of cologne.

A black and white of the counters in the department store.

Another view of the interior of the store.  

A postcard sent to a friend telling where their office is located in the building.

The Woolworth building is to the rear of this postcard.  It shows the east side of the first block of North Queen Street as you look south towards Lancaster's square and the Soldiers & Sailor's monument.

This shows the building from the opposite end of North Queen Street looking north.

The rooftop terrace can be seen in this old black and white photograph.

I believe this is a painting rather than a photograph.

This may be an advertisement for the Everts & Overdeer Plumbing and Heating contractors.  They picture the Woolworth Building Roof Garden. 

An advertisement for Woolworth's telling all the locations of the store.

Another ad for F.W. Woolworth

This color ad shows the variety of Hubley Toys they have for sale.  Hubley Toys were cast iron toys made in Lancaster, PA.

A Christmas advertisement showing greeting cards for sale.

This photograph would be from 1949 when the store was demolished to build a concrete and glass superstore.  What a shame someone didn't have the foresight to stop the demolition of one of Lancaster's finest buildings in its history.

This is what was built!  What a shame!!

This photograph and the following one show the demolition of the concrete and glass superstore to make room for an expansion of the bank that stood nearby.

History being destroyed.

A collage of photos telling the history of F.W. Woolworth 5 &10 Store.

Mr. F.W. Woolworth.

The obituary of one of America's premier salesman and entrepreneurs.