Friday, February 1, 2019

Corvallis Businesses Circa 1920


The last post showed some of the stores that two women shopping on Second Street might have entered. 

During the 1914-1925 era, there were some shops the women probably would not have entered.  Because The Pastime, located in the Julian Hotel on Second Street, had a billiard hall in back, the women might have been reluctant to patronize the soda fountain in the front.
The Pastime, Corvallis soda fountain & pool hall
Women in the early 1920s also would not have been likely to enter a cigar store or a barber shop.
W. A. Williamson's Corvallis Cigar Factory
Corvallis barber shop, circa 1925
In 1910, Gus Harding constructed a two-story commercial building at Third and Madison.  The first occupant was the Nolan's Department store, which advertised that “it paid to walk a little further.” During the circa 1920 period, other commercial buildings were constructed in this area as the business district expanded westward. If the women in the photo been willing to walk a bit, they could have visited Corl’s Book store to purchase stationery and other paper goods as well as books.
Corl's Book Shop interior, Corvallis, Oregon
By Martha Fraundorf, Volunteer for Benton County Historical Society, Philomath, Oregon

2 comments:

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    1. Some time between 1988 and 1994. I can tell you that, because it was up for sale soon after my first child, Walden "Waldy" Burt, was born. My wife and I considered buying it, and joked about calling it "Waldybooks" (which we probably could not have gotten away with), but ultimately put the money into providing Walden with siblings (a boy and two girls who arrived from Ethiopia in 1994).

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