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The TALES you probably never heard about

THE ROSS COMPANY

One of the Finest Dry Goods and Clothing Establishments in the Niagara Peninsula

[Souvenir of the Town of Welland, Issued August 22, 1902 by the Welland Telegraph, Sears & Sawle, Publishers]

One of the most imposing business facades within the confines of Welland, or the county for that matter, and which from its commanding location, naturally attracts attention from either side of the canal, is the two story brick building of the Ross Company, of which Mr David Ross is the chief executive. It stands on the corner of East Main and Muir Streets, and within which is conducted one of the largest and best stocked dry goods and clothing emporiums to be found in the county, and which would do justice to the business section of a metropolitan centre of much larger proportions than that of Welland. The main floor and front has recently undergone remodelling, by which the premises practically comprise one large apartment, intersected by a shelf partition separating the dry goods from that of the clothing department, affording some 4000 square feet of floor space, for mercantile purposes. Midway of the premises, is a convenient cashier’s desk, from which radiates a carrier system penetrating all parts of the establishment. A commodius general office in the rear, overlooks the entire lower floor. The East Main Street facade is adorned on either side of the entrance with large plate glass fronts, within the ample recesses of which are very attractively arrayed, upon the one side, dress good fineries, and novelties so bewitchingly enticing to the fair sex, while the other is equally as tastily arranged with samples of ready to wear garments and men’s furnishing novelties, so interesting to the men and boys. The display thus presented externally, conveys but a meagre idea as to the character of or quality of the goods in bulk to be found within. The dry and fancy goods department, which is to the left of the street entrance, is a mecca for the ladies. Herein, in tempting array, may be found dress patterns in variety, imported and domestic, products of the loom and factory in cottons, woolens, muslins, cashmeres, and other textures all of the latest shades and designs, including the famous Priestley dress goods, which have a world wide reputation, having no equal in black goods, and for which the Ross Co., are the exclusive agents in Welland; as also the Standard patterns, the simplest and most easily understood pattern made. Beside this the Ross Co., have always on sale, ‘The Design” the monthly publication of the Standard Company. Then again there are silk and satin dress fabrics galore, each tidily ensconced within their alloted apartments easily accessible for the inspection of patrons, while dress linings, trimmings, hosiery, gloves, ladies’ and children’s underwear of seasonable grades, small wares, novelties and notions of all description, each having a place, mainly to the left. Included in the dry goods department are skirts, wrappers, shirt waists, etc. Right off the main entrance, divisioned by the semi-partition alluded to, is the ready to wear clothing and men’s furnishing emporium, with tables filled with stock so arranged as to afford ample space for inspection, the clothing thus displayed being of the latest styles of men’s and youths’ under and over garments of all sizes, and in various textures, while hats, caps, gloves and furnishings of every character are also to be found herein, the entire stock in this, as in the dry good department, being complete in every respect. Over the rear of the dry goods store accessible by a short and easy staircase is a department devoted exclusively too the display and sale of ladies tailor made garments of the latest patterns, while just beyond, but separated, is an apartment devoted to the sale of carpetings of various grades, oil cloths, and linoleums, together with lace curtains, window shades, portierres and small ware upholsteries. As a whole the Ross Company who have been located in business in Welland for upward of a quarter of a century, have just cause for pride in an establishment that would be considered creditable to a dry goods prince. Mr Ross is, and always has been, an active participant in all that pertains to the welfare of Welland. He has been a member of the town council, at one time and another for twenty-five years, and is a member of the present board. He was mayor in 1888, ‘89 and  ‘90, and a member of the County Council for one year a member of the Public School Board for eight years, and treasurer of the Fire Department for over quarter of a century.

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