116-118 Randolph Street, Colby’s Gift Book Shop, Augustus Putnam’s Emporium, Dyhrenfurth’s School of Trade
Life Span: Abt 1859-1871
Location: 116-118 Randolph, Between Dearborn and Clark
Architect: Unknown
Western Railroad Gazette, January 29, 1859
At the Gift Book Store, 118 Randolph street, which, we observe, is at all hours of the day fully crowded, our citizens are purchasing the best works of the best authors at very reduced prices. addition to this, each purchaser is presented with an article varying in value from one to one hundred dol lars, or with each purchase, may at his option take either the present or another book. There is no doubt as to the above being the case, but how books are afforded at such prices, with a handsome present thrown in, we cannot for the life of us discover.
Chicago Tribune, December 12, 1859
Colby’s Gift Book Store.—The Chicago correspondent of an exchange paper says: One of the features of our Chicago Book Trade, is the great Gift Book Store of Messrs. J. A. Colby & Co., No. 118 Randolph street, Chicago, which has, since its establishment some years ago, been constantly on the increase, and now gives employment to a large force of clerks and assistants in the various departments of selling, mailing and shipping. Other Gift Enterprises, so called, have come and gone, older book concerns of the usual class have passed out of existence before the pressure of the times, but Mr. Colby seems as busy and successful as ever. Just now his windows, show cases and shelves glitter and gleam with a superb variety of Holiday Books. The old standard authors hare come out bravely in gold and fine morocco to meet the demands of the Gift season, which however with this house lasts the whole year round.
There is not in Chicago to-day a richer display than at Colby’s, where the old poets, the novelists and dramatists are in holiday attire, waiting to elicit the smiles they are literally bound to win when the giver by their aid asks remembrance. Let any one send for one of Mr. Colby’s handsome catalogues, which are mailed free to any address, and see how and what his promises and prices are, as they are therein all set forth. He has such facilities that he can fill any order for books as cheaply as can be done at New York.
But the reader asks “how is it about the Gift?” If Mr. Colby sells his books for no more than his neighbors, bow can he give the purchaser his chance to draw any one of the rich and beautiful articles of jewelry that form the contents of one of his elegant show cases,—a prominent ornament of his store?
Just here is the reason, and I confess it is satisfactory to me. He buys books at the East for ready cash, and could undersell his neighbors and yet make a handsome profit. He prefers to extend his trade and double his sales by dividing this advantage with the book purchaser here. The dividend for the latter is a chance at this jewelry, and almost daily Mr. Colby receives acknowledgements of watches and valuable gifts that are sent by mail and express to all parts of the country.
Now, what can be fairer than this? Let us say you buy a dollar volume. It is the same price yon would pay elsewhere. No matter what it cost Mr. Colby. He is content to share the profits with you who patronize him, and thus a gift varying in vafoo trom fifty cents to one hundred dollars will be given with every book at the time of purchase. This is tbe key to Mr. Colby’s success. This it is that fills his store with customers daily, throughout a dull season. Has not his establishment and its attractions a special claim for the Holidays? It would seem so.
Chicago Tribune, April 4, 1861
Discredited Illinois Banks taken at par for all kinds of fashionable clothing, at Putnam’s Great Eastern Emporium, 116 Randolph street
- 116-118 Randolph, about 1866.
Stairs leading up to Dyhrenfurth’s School of Trade can be seen in the center. Dr. J. Orton Farnsworth’s Dentist office was in this building from 1863 till January, 1868, in which he moved to the southwest corner of Lake and LaSalle streets.
Western Railroad Gazette, December 19, 1863
Songs for the People.
Number Five:
“Great news from Washington!” we hear
From telegraph, each day,
“The rebel force is pressing near’,
To bear our flag away!”
But, there’s a flag in Putnam’s Store,
116 Randolph Street,
Hung up just inside of the door,
With stars and stripes complete.
No treason hand will dare to touch
That badge of prices low,
Where Yankees, Irishmen or Dutch
To buy good clothing go.
And Putnam now, like him “lang syne,”
Has courage to contend
Against the foes which may combine,
Oppression to defend.
And whilst our flag he will sustain
Against Secessia’s frown;
Justice in Trade he will maintain
And put high prices down.
Don’t pay War Prices for Clothing, till you have seen Putnam’s Mammoth Stock, 116 and 118 Randolph Street.
Western Railroad Gazette, January 2, 1864
“Bulls Run!”
Bulls Run will long have great renown,
For sorrow more than fun,
And our old eagle wears a frown,
To think we had to run.
Though “he that fights and runs away,”
May, as the poets sing,
“Survive to fight another day,”
And fame and valor bring.
And, since the Stars and Stripes appear,
Hung out at Putnam’s Store, At 116 Randolph— ’tis clear
(Though it was clear before.)
That men will run the place to find—
Where running is the game,
To find a suit to suit the mind,
And runners run to fame.
Putnam’s Eastern Clothing Emporium Largest Stock Largest Store and oldest Clothing Establishment in the city.
Chicago Tribune, December 6, 1864
Class in Elocution and Shakespear.—The first meeting of Prof. McCoy’s is at Powers’ Academy of Gymnastics, Nos. 116 and 116 Randolph street, this afternoon at 4 o’clock.
Chicago Tribune, December 2, 1865
Stupendous Announcement! Two Richmonds in the field! Putnam’s immense sale is waking up the small clothing dealers, who are coming down in price and advertising to sell goods 10 per cent less than others can buy. Purchasers of fall and winter clothing must certainly be indebted to Putnam for bringing down high prices, and we think other dealers will find It uphill work to compete with him. At any rate, Mr. P. would be pleased to have customers look over all the mammoth stocks advertised and then examine his prices. They can easily judge who are selling goods at low figures. The honorable way of marking goods. In plain figures, at “one price only,” is done in no other clothing house in Chicago. Putnam started this system one year ago, and the success attending it has induced him to m«make the Eastern Clothing Emporium hereafter a one price store. Remember goods are marked down 20 and 30 per cent. Nos. 116 and 118 Randolph st.
Chicago Evening Post, December 29, 1865
Putnam.—One of the great and leading establishments of Chicago is the great eastern emporium of Putnam at 116 and 118 Randolph street. At all times of the year this place will be found packed from floor to ceiling with clothing of all kinds, from the very best eastern manufacturers. Every article in the establishment can be relied on as being precisely what it is represented. If you buy it for first class, it is first class They never deceive their customers. The grand feature of this house however is the extraordinary low prices at which they sell their goods. They are noted for this, and are at all times lower in their terms than their competitors. Low as these rates usually are, they are now less than ever, as all goods have been marked down from 20 to 30 per cent This is an immense inducement to purchasers and no wonder there is such a rush of them to Putnam’s.
Chicago Tribune, March 8, 1866
Illinois School of Trade.—The Business Department of this deservedly popular institution, in order to accommodate the increasingly large number of students, has been removed to the commodious hall, 116 and 118 Randolph street, opposite Col. Wood’s Museum. The Educational Department is still continued at the old rooms, 192 Lake street.
Principal Office at the new Hall, where applications for admission to enter department must be made.
Chicago Tribune, April 26, 1866
Dyhrenfurth’s School for Boys.-This department of the School of Trade will commence a new term on the first of May. Applications for admission should be made at the principal office, 116 and 118 Randolph street, between the hours of 2 and 4 p. m.
Dyhrenfurth’s School for Girls.-This branch of the School of Trade will be opened in elegant rooms on Dearborn street, between Lake and Randolph, on the first of May. Applications for admission should be made at the principal office, 116 and 118 Randolph street, between the hours of 2 and 4 p. m.
The lllinois School of Trade.-The Business Department of this Institution is open daily from 9 a. m. to 4:30 p. m. Students may enter upon the Commercial Course at any time. Rooms 116 and 118 Randolph street, opposite the Museum.
J. Dyhrenfurth, Principal.
Chicago Tribune, June 25, 1868
DEATH OF A. A. PUTNAM.-We regret to announce the sudden death of Mr. Augustus A. Putnam. He came to this city ten years ago, and for many years past has had a large clothing establishment on Randolph street. Tuesday morning he suddenly became very sick, and was taken to the residence of his father-in-law, Mr. Alexander Bishop. He remained there in an insensible condition until yesterday morning, when he died. He was highly esteemed and had many friends.
Chicago Evening Post, December 20, 1869
The annual examination Dyhrenfurth’s Collegiate Institute on Randolph street which took place last week have became unusually thorough and satisfactory. Being conducted in writing, and covering a wide field, they gave the best possible proof of the proficiency of the pupils and the efficiency of Prof. Dyhrenfurth’s excellent institution. Lack of space prevents the extended notice deserved. The college contains some 400 pupils of both sexes.
Chicago Evening Post, December 20, 1872
THE OLD ONE PRICE STORE.
E. D. Terry the Popular Clothier in New Quarters.
Almost all the old dwellers in Chicago will remember the original one price clothing house established in this city in 1858, and before the fire under the proprietorship of E. D. Terry, at Nos 114 and 118 Randolph street. The store was run upon the strict principle of one price to every customer, and the offer of a reward of $100 was hung upon the outer and inner walls of the establishment to any person who would purchase any article in the store at a less price than was plainly marked upon it. However tempting, it is a sufficient guarantee to the integrity of the house to say that the reward was never claimed. But the fire that swept away so many monuments of established principle took the “Putnam” with it. As soon as the first excitement of the fire was over, Terry was found to be the champion of the same “one price” rule with two large stores, one at No. 370 State street and the other at No. 217 West Madison street, the latter of which is in the full blast of prosperity. The store on State street has been discontinued, and to accommodate his South Side customers, Mr. Terry has moved into the magnificent building at the northeast corner of Clark and Madison streets. The store has two entrances one at Nos 131 and 133 South Clark street, and the other at No. 117 Madison street. Into the store he has put an immense stock of gent’s clothing and furnishing goods of every known grade of style and finish, and of the most fashionable materials. The store is finely lighted and the purchaser is not obliged to buy in the dark. Connected with the establishment is a department exclusively for youths’ and boys’ clothing, where the smallest lad can procure a perfect fit of any desirable quality of goods Every article in the store has the price for which it can be bought plainly marked upon it, and Mr. Terry still holds out his old and ever standing offer of $100 to any person who can buy an article in the establishment at less tian the figures indicate as its price.
Some idea of the stock of goods carried can be obtained from knowing that the aggregate stock in both stores—No. 217 West Madison end Nos. 131 and 133 Clark street—exceed $250,000. Terry claims he can fit to perfection the largest man or the smallest boy, and it is a matter of great doubt if a more elegant and complete stock of clothing and haberdashery can be found in the Northwest.
Terry’s new store is far more spacious than the old one on Randolph street and he has only been acting in accordance with the demands of his large trade in seeking more elegant and roomy accommodations for his customers, who recognize the principle that only an honest and upright dealer can adopt and prosper upon tho invariable one price rule, adopted so many years ago by the establishment.
Chicago Tribune, March 21, 1861
ILLINOIS SCHOOL OF TRADE.—Soma three years since, J. Dyhrenfurth of this city, who was prepared and qualified by a long experience in the practical details of business life, opened a School of Trade at Waukegan with view to instruct students in the details and mode of transacting business. His experiment was successful, and with the opening of the present year he established a Branch School of Trade in Chicago, over the Bank of J. H. Burch & Co., which is well attended and flourishing, Such progress indeed has the Institution made that, contrary to the original plan, it is believed it will be necessary to keep open the evening classes until midsummer. These latter favor a very large class of young men who are disposed to employ their leisure hours for their own advancement. Such as these and all others could desire no better teacher than Mr. Dyhrenfurth.
Chicago Tribune, January 31, 1863
The Illinois School of Trade.
Two years ago, J. Dyhrenfurth a practical business man and an able scholar as well, established in this city the Illinois School of Trade at the request of many of our most prominent merchants, removing for that purpose from Waukegan where the School had been some time in successful operation. The school rapidly filled up with the sons of our heartiest and best known merchants and for two years past has been going along quietly and without any flourish of trumpets, letting its results stand as indices of its merits. Those results are two hundred of the best business young men in this city—not merely accountants but thoroughly educated business men conversant with every detail of trade.
The system pursued in this School is unexceptionably the best. All the main branches of trade are taught exactly as they are carried on in every day life. The student is familiarized with book keeping, buying and selling, weighing and measuring, qualities and prices of goods, practical banking, shipping, the levying of dates, in fine, every detail of business. In addition to this he may require if he pleases, a thorough knowledge of French, Spanish, German and other languages most commonly necessary in business, new methods of calculation, by which he may compute interest, foot up long tables, or calculate exchange in a twinkling, and a thorough course of penmanship. To this end, Mr. Dehrenfurth has employed the most competent teachers in these various departments and supplied his school with all the necessary appliances.
Connected with the school is a preparatory class for boys, in which course, reading, writing, spelling, history, arithmetic, grammar, and the languages are taught. The class is well patronized and ably conducted hy competent teachers.
It is a significant mark of the success or this excellent system that this school now numbers. three hundred and eighty-one pupils. It is located at tho corner of Lake and Wells streets, where Mr. D. may be found during business hours. We are pleased to chronicle the success of this excellent school, and commend it to young men desirous of obtaining a practical business education.
116-118 Randolph Street
E. Whitehead’s Map of the Business Portion of Chicago
1862
116-118 Randolph Street
Sanborn Fire Insurance Map
1869
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