17
THE JEWISH CHRONICLE
The Story of
Nearly Half
a Century
Here, as in the first store, the busi-
ness continued to grow, and, so
rapidly that long before their lease
was out, the firm began to cast
about for a new and larger loca-
tion.
1878
It is interesting to note in the
study of the growth of cities or
great business centers, how some
firm or individual name will be-
come associated with this growth
and development ; so much so that
you can scarcely think of one with-
out associating it with the other.
You mention the name of Chicago
and instantly you think of Mar-
shall Field; you talk of New York
and there looms up before you the
name of Altman or Lord & Tay-
lor or Arnold Constable. And so
in Detroit, when one speaks of its
growth—of its wonderful indus-
tries'—and you desire to picture
this, you immediately suggest New-
comb-Endicott Company as the out-
standing mercantile embodiment of
the rise and growth of the "City of
the Straits."
Nearly 50 years ago now, the
late Mr. Cyrenius Adelbert New-
comb—then a very young man—
came to the west, seeking an in-
vestment for his capital and brains.
Immediately recognizing the possi-
bilities of the City of Detroit, he,
with the late Mr. Charles Endicott,
purchased the stock and good will
of Jas. W. Farrell & Bros., then
doing business in the old Merrill
Block, on the corner of Woodward
and Jefferson.
The late D. NI. Ferry erected for
them the fine spacious building
which is part of the great business
institution of today. Here, as else-
where, the firm was splendidly suc-
cessful. If the previous growths
had been wonderful, the firm's de-
velopment, after occupying this
new building was phenomenal.
In 1902 the firm again found it
necessary to seek enlarged quar-
ters and still the business grew and
the firm added first one store of
the building to the north and then
the entire building. Finding this
additional space all too small, the
firm arranged to more than double
its capacity by the erection of the
handsome new addition opened in
1910. This addition . more than
doubled the capacity of the firm.
1916
of large increase of selling space
for enlarged and new departments,
which will very shortly be arranged
for.
that the firm is not only locally well
known, but is known throughout
the entire country and abroad as
well.
Thus from a small beginning 50
years ago has grown one of the
greatest concerns of this country
with ramifications reaching to every
State in the Union and to lands be-
yond the ocean.
In this outline of the firm's
growth may be read the story of
the growth of the city of Detroit—
the story of the city's progress and
growth is impossible without New-
comb-Endicott Company. As the
city has grown, so has the firm.
It may be interesting to note just
here, that on a certain day in the
month of December, of last year,
Just six years have elapsed since packages were mailed by the firm
the completion of this new build- of Newcomb-Endicott Company to
ing and the firm is now seeking every State in the Union, with the
still larger outlets. The old Hen- exception of one ; and also that on
kel Building, on Randolph street, the same day, packages were mailed
has been leased for a long term of to Cuba, to Canada, to Rome in
years. Here the store rooms and Italy, to London, England, to
manufacturing interests of the firm Petrograd in Russia. This is an
will be taken care of, thus allowing interesting fact and serves to show
For 47 years the late Mr. New-
comb was the presiding genius of
this great institution. Year by
year he saw his dreams and visions
take shape, and at the time of his
demise—just a little over a year
ago—his was the directing hand in
the development of the greatest
dry goods concern in the city of
Detroit.
On the 9th day of March, 1915,
he peacefully breathed his last,
leaving his great achievement in
the hands of those who had been
associated with him in its up-
building.
The new firm took the name of
Newcomb & Endicott and imme-
diately started business in the Far-
rell stand. In a very short time
the firm became known for its hon-
esty, and wholly upright dealings
with the public. Just 12 months
from the time the sign of New-
comb & Endicott replaced that of
Jas. W. Farrell & Bros., it became
necessary to seek larger quarters
in order to take care of an ever in-
creasing volume of business.
Contrary to the best judgment of
other dry goods firms in the city,
they leased the ground floor of the
then New Opera house building,
facing the Campus Martius, for a
period of ten years. Business men
throughout the city were somewhat
pessimistic, but with a prophetic in-
stinct and a profund belief in the
building up of a Greater Detroit
they moved into their new quarters.
In the year 1896 Mr. Charles En-
dicott passed away, leaving his
partner to bear the entire respon-
sibility of the rapidly increasing
business connections.
Associated with the late Mr.
Newcomb in the management and
building up of this great business,
we have:
r. Cv renius Adelbert New-
comb, Jr., for many years secre-
tary and now president of the cor-
poration, succeeding his late father.
Mr. George Taylor Moody, first
vice-president, with the business
ever since its inception.
Mr. 11. Byron Scott, second .vice-
president, who became associated
with the firm in 1881.
Mr. John Endicott, treasurer of
the corporation, a nephew of the
late Mr. Charles Endicott.
C. A. NEWCOMB, Jr.
President
Mr. Howard R. Newcomb, di-
rector, youngest son of the founder
of The institution.