THE ROSS CO’Y

Their Old Home Made New

Premises Enlarged and Remodeled to Accommodate Increased Trade

[People's Press, 2 December 1901]

              Progress and improvement are the order of the day in Welland. To those who have not visited the town for several years the place seems to have assumed a metropolitan air quite different from the usual atmosphere of Canadian towns of its size and status. The gentlemen who have formed the town councils of the past few years are largely responsible for this. Our new permanent walks, the vast improvements in our streets and splendid municipal buildings have given an impetus to private enterprise of all sorts, and every day we notice some change for the better and the result of the movement is very gratifying indeed.

             One of the latest improvements, and one that is of great material benefit to Welland and the surrounding country, is the metamorphosis of The Ross Co’s store on East Main street.

             In view of this, the latest step in the progressive career of the Ross Company, a short resume of the company’s history will not be inappropriate.

             David Ross, the chief of the firm, was like so many successful business men the world over, born in Scotland. He came to Canada when a mere lad, and has worked his own way up ever since. In the year, 1875 he came to Thorold and became a partner with Wm. Bull. About 1880 he came to Welland to manage one of the firm’s four stores, the other two being at Merritton and Port Colborne. After some years the partnership with Mr. Bull was dissolved and the Welland business has ever since been under the name of Ross. The business has been located for about twenty years at the building on corner of East Main and Muir streets, and it is there that their hosts of patrons still find the Ross Company ready to supply the best in their lines. The block formerly belonged to the late William Mellanby, but on his decease, the company, D. Ross, Welland; William Ross, Guelph, purchased it and have since had the advantage of occupying their own building.

             The steadily increasing business of the firm and the spirit of improvement abroad in Welland made the firm resolve to modernize their business. The services of Architect Jas. Ellis of Toronto were called upon and the plans and specifications drawn up by him for the re-modeling of the building were very creditable indeed. The contracts for the masonry and carpenter work were given to Messrs. Vanderburg and Cutler, and J.O. Hyatt did the painting, papering and decorating.

             To begin with, the premises occupied by the firm were doubled in size. The west store of the block, previously used as Cumines drug store, was connected with the centre store, the former quarters of the business. The old front was entirely removed, the front of the wall between the two walls was cut back and a large space was thus created immediately inside the doors which are now in the centre of the front. The two stores are also connected by an arch midway between the front and back and by a large square opening in the rear. The stability of the building was maintained by putting in heavy steel girders wherever the walls were cut out.

             The new store front is deserving of special attention. It is divided in the centre by the handsome double doors with plate glass panels and large open vestibule. Each window is roofed over about two feet below the ceiling of the store and is divided from the store by glass partitions with air-tight sliding doors. The windows thus completely cut off from the rest of the store are ventilated from the outside by rows of cleverly concealed ventilating holes at the top and bottoms, and as its temperature is thus the same as that of the air outside, no frost or steam will form on the plate glass front or side lights.

             The accommodation for window display is truly metropolitan and in fact exceeds that. The front window has prismatic glass or door lights about 312 square feet; width of window space, from front to back, 7 feet, affording ample opportunity for Mr. T.W. Gordon, the artistic window dresser, to display his talent and aesthetic tastes. Several large sales have already been directly traced to the attractive window display.

             Above the enclosed top of the windows are large lights of prismatic glass, furnishing abundant and unobstructed light clear to the back of the store. The advantages of this cannot be over-estimated.

             The windows themselves will be lighted at night by incandescent electric lights with funnel shaped mirror aesthetics. These will be placed at the top of the glass front and will throw light on the presentation in the window.

             The interior of the store will be lighted by a number of large electric lights especially designed for lighting interiors.

             A new hardwood floor was put down all over the store, and the new arrangement of counters and shelves is very advantageous. The walls and ceilings have been covered with a paper having a metallic lustre which adds greatly to the bright appearance of the store. The counters and shelving have been repainted or “grained” and a little remains to be done in this line yet.

             On entering the store the first thing that catches the customer’s eye is what Mr. Ross calls a “silent salesman.” This is not a regularly paid member of the staff, but nevertheless its services are quite satisfactory. The counters on each side of the central wall of the store have been curved around the front and meet just in front of the door. On this an assortment of the choicest goods is arranged in such a manner as to attract special attention and there is no doubt that many sales are greatly facilitated thereby.

             The west store is devoted chiefly to ready-made clothing, hats and caps and gents furnishings and the stock is selected and arranged in a manner very pleasing to the buyer and very profitable to the firm.

             The east store is divided on a departmental system. Dress goods occupy a large space on the west side at the front. Opposite is hosiery, buttons and small wares. Farther back are cottons, linens, and other departments each giving evidence of great care in its stock and arrangement.

             Upstairs are the cloak, mantle and fur rooms, where ladies can inspect, price, try on and purchase in privacy, concealed from prying eyes and away from the listening ears that are such an annoyance to the prospective purchaser in many cases.

             Next this department is the carpet room, stocked with the latest and best in all lines of floor coverings, and lighted to the best advantage.

             Down in the basement are two rooms, corresponding to the stores above, lighted by prismatic glass and by artificial means, and dry and clean as most stores. Both are crowed full of reserve stock, ready to replace goods sold at a moment’s notice.

             The conveniences of the business will be of the most complete kind. In the arch which connects the two stores will be located the cashier’s desk, and from it will radiate a system of automatic change carriers reaching to all parts of the store.

             On the main floor, at the back, Mr. Ross will have a private office.

             The extent, convenience and value to the town of this place of business can only be properly estimated by a personal visit, and Mr. Ross and his corps of able and courteous assistants are always ready and pleased to show the visitor to any and all parts of the establishment.