Department Store - The Edwardian Department Store 1912

by Mike Savad

Title

Department Store - The Edwardian Department Store 1912

Artist

Mike Savad

Medium

Photograph - Colorized Photo

Description

Colorized photo from 1912, Jan
Original Title: Elliott Taylor Woolfenden, First floor
Photographer: Detroit publishing
Location: 2473-2481 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, Mi (orig address 1-37 Henry St)

Have you ever wondered it was like to shop during the Edwardian era? This is what a department store looked like over a hundred years ago. This was a time where general stores were your main source of shopping and you would have to ask a person behind the counter for the item you wanted. But in a store like this you can't do that, or can you?

It seems there is a person behind every counter, even the tiny ones, each one specializing in something. Check out the toys, that lady is almost hidden in there. That doll must be about 2ft tall, it has articulated hands, comes with a few toys and an umbrella. It even has a full wardrobe, I don't know who makes that doll but all the clothes has a little mouse door like patch on the bottom of its dress, and there are stacks of dresses to choose from. Must have been a popular doll for the elite.

This store has a decent history. It stared off as the Elliot building, it was located at the northwest corner of Grand River Ave and Woodward Ave (the barns block), that was in 1894. The building had a store called The William H. Elliott Dry Goods, he sold carpets, draperies, and children's clothing until 1909. In 1910 the company consolidated with the Taylor-Woolfenden Company, and they were renamed to Elliott-Taylor-Woolfenden, which was probably a pain to write down everywhere.

They built a new buildings in 1911, on the southwest corner of Woodward Ave and Henry St. It was demolished in 1985.

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September 11th, 2019

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