It was an ordinary day. Searching for a photo for another story I was writing when I came upon a photograph of a building in Lancaster, Pennsylvania known as Leinbach & Company which was located in downtown Lancaster at 35-47 N. Queen Street. As I read a bit more, I found that Leinbach & Company was one of seven Lancaster stores from yesteryear that was an independent retailer that served customers over the past century and a half. I searched some more and found photographs of all seven so I thought I would feature all seven in today's story to show you the magnitude of the businesses that served the town of Lancaster in the past.
1. Leinbach & Company was a large retail establishment known as the "daylight department store," since it had skylights and an open courtyard. It was founded in 1893 by W. Scott Leinbach. in 1898 they had a big sale when 75 dozen H&S corsets were reduced from 89 cents to 59 cents. Can't imagine how many women, and perhaps a few men, must have mobbed the store that day. Then in 1938 they reduced the price of "Miss Hollywood" pajamas to 98 cents and also had 30 styles of white shoes "to set the town talking" which were on sale for $1.99 a pair. Then one day in 1919 the employees of the store honored Mr. Leinbach and his wife at closing time with a loving cup and flowers on the business' anniversary.
2. Sayres, Scheid & Sweeton, 28-30 E. King Street was known by many as the 3-S Store. It seemed to be one of the "Go-To" stores for good quality men's clothing. Mister's E.P Sayres, William F. Scheid and J. Frank Sweeton worked together for years at the nearby Williamson and Foster Store which opened in 1907. Mr. Scheid, the last surviving member of the group died in 1972 at the age of 96. According to the Lancaster Newspaper's archives, suits and overcoats cost $25-$28 in 1908. A $50,000 fire in 1909 destroyed a lot of the merchandise. A popular brand of suit, Kuppenheimer, cost $40-$60 in 1930 and was billed as an investment in good appearance.
3. A. Leaman Futer, 140-42 north Christian Street and East Chestnut Street was a bicycle shop begun by A. Leman Futer the day after his 20th birthday in 1896. In the 1890's, Futer developed a new style of bike with coaster brakes. He called it the Futer Flyer. He and his brother Frank made and sold the bikes for $25 in 1900. His factory was located. at 140-42 Christian Street. They later moved the shop to the first block of East Chestnut Street.
4. John H. Troup Music House, 38-40 W. King Street sold records, phonographs, pianos and other musical instruments as well as offering music lessons. The business originally opened in the town of Harrisburg, PA. The Music House was run by the family of Bobby Troup who was a songwriter who was featured in "Route 66." Bobby left Lancaster to seek his fortune in show business in California and appeared in the 1970s TV show "Emergency." He went to school with my dad in the late 1910s to early 1920s. The music house operated from the early 1920s until the 1950s. In December of 1924 the store carried Brunswick Christmas records for 75 cents apiece and in 1928 you could buy an Ampicl Symphonique baby grand piano for $1,300. What a deal!
5. The Fahnestock's Store on West King Street stood in the first block of West King Street before it was known as Garvin's Department Store. In 1851 the store was run by Return E. Fahnestck. There wan't a better known dry-good's store in downtown Lancaster than Fahnestock's. Mr. Fahnestock had just about anything you might want in the dry goods line. His obituary was in the October 2, 1895 copy of the Semi-Weekly New Era and said he was a "fair, honorable and upright guy in his business dealings and his character was without blemish. His whole life was devoted to business. Mr. Fahnestock was forced to retire in 1883 due to "loss of eyesight." He sold his store to Milton Thomas Garvin, his former store manager, who continued the business as M.T. Garvin & Co.
6. Winky Dink Toy Store at 16 West King Street was the place to go for holiday gifts in November of 1963 when they first opened. An ad in the local newspaper told of buying games such as Password, The Barbie Game and Candy Land. They were all between $1 and $3. You could also get an Erector Set for $3, Barbie clothes for 66 cents, a football for $2, an Etch-a-Sketch for $4 or the Kenner Give-s-Show Projector for $5. If you wanted to buy items for schools, churches or workplaces you could see Bill Winkelman. Ah...now we know where the store got it's name! I do remember buying many toys for my three children at the store over the years. Store is on the right side of photo below.
7. State of Confusion was located at 49 W. King Street in downtown Lancaster. In 1984 the Cotton sisters, Suzanne and Laura opened the store at the site of the former Manhattan Peanut Stand. The store catered to fans of punk, New Wave and heavy metal bands. They sold buttons, wristbands, posters, T-shirts and other related clothing and incidentals. Suzanne went on to become a fashion designer and later an associate professor and chair of fashion design at Columbus College of Art & Design in Ohio. And... she was a student in my Graphic Arts/Photography classes at Manheim Township High School. Great girl who liked to dress...well...different!
 |
| Suzanne and Laura Cotton |
So, there you have a few of the many stores that filled the streets of downtown Lancaster for years and years. There are probably a hundred or so more, but that will have to wait for another day. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
No comments:
Post a Comment