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The Amazing and Wonderful Famous-Barr As I begin posting my series of Christmas short stories and novellas set in this department store, I am struck by how paltry and sad the Wikipedia entry is for this amazing company. In an effort to improve that article, I have created this short summary, which I hope to tweak and eventually add to wiki. My information comes from first-hand sources, primarily documents made by the company, such as employee newsletters and handbooks, and history books concerning the development of Saint Louis in the 19th century. Please feel free to leave me any feedback, as I do wish this material to be rock-solid and accurate. ---------------------------------------------------- Famous-Barr Overview: With origins stretching back to 1849, and hundreds of millions of dollars worth of annual sales, Famous-Barr was one of the oldest, largest, and most successful department stores companies in history. It was the flagship enterprise of the multi-national May Company, whose conglomeration of retail, department stores, and shopping malls were headquartered in the same downtown Saint Louis structure as Famous-Barr, The Railway Exchange Building. At the end of the 20th century, The May Company embarked on an aggressive expansion campaign, and by 2006, held more retail assets than their nearest rival, The Federated Department Stores Company. However, in that year, May merged with Federated, and all 30-plus Famous-Barr stores began operating under the 'Macy's' moniker. History: William P. Barr and Company William Barr was born in Scotland 1827 and immigrated to the United States as a lad at the age of thirteen. He entered the dry goods business in New York soon thereafter, and quickly rose to management positions. In 1849 he was entrusted by his firm with the capital to open a company in Saint Louis, which he did, and which quickly grew to be a major retailer and wholesaler. Barr's soon achieved financial independence, and through expansion and acquisitions grew to have no rival in the West. By 1880, the store had annual sales topping $2.5 million and moved into the Julia Building, thereby making it the largest retailer in the world. This impressive granite structure, completed in 1869, covered half a city block, fronted Sixth Street, and offered a basement level perfect for special events and promotions. The store took advantage of that fact, and for the Christmas season of 1880 offered the first-ever department store Santa Claus for children to visit free of charge. Two other stores, one in New York, and one in Connecticut, claim to be the origin of the tradition, but in the 1890's (well after Barr's); the NY store put an Santa actor in their window where no one could visit with him, and the CT store's owner dressed as Santa for a holiday parade, but was again not stationed in the store for visitors. Barr's originated the concept we know and love. By about 1900, Barr's occupied the entire block between Sixth and Seventh Streets, and Olive and Locust Streets, roughly 310,000 square feet of showrooms. In addition, they had a powerhouse, warehouse, wholesale division, mail order section, candy kitchen and bakery, plus shipping and receiving in a ten-story facility one block away at Saint Charles and Seventh Street. Famous Established in 1870 as primarily a men's ready-to-wear haberdashery, the establishment apparently had no memorable name above its door. Company history has it that an early customer arrived one day saying word of mouth was spreading rapidly in his rural area, and that the store was becoming quite famous in surrounding parts. The name Famous was instantly and officially adopted. The business grew rapidly, primarily due to the fact that ready-to-wear was a new concept in the 1870s, and Saint Louis firms like Rice, Stix and Company were in the vanguard of making affordable clothing in factory-like settings. The business grew rapidly, and became recognized as a leader of local civic pride with its entries in the Veiled Prophet Parades. They expanded their lines to full department store status with a move to an impressive structure in 1884, and then again to ever larger quarters in 1890, but still focused primarily on fashionable menswear. In 1892, tragedy struck. A fire damaged a part of the store's facilities and much of its merchandise. The insurance company paid off the claim, but seized the operations. This is where another immigrant and successful businessman enters the picture. David May bought Famous in a fire sale for $150,000. He had gone out as a young man from his native Germany to the Colorado gold rush. By the time he arrived, all the good claims were taken, but May looked around and saw the miners were flushed with cash but starved for clothes and other luxuries. He pooled his money and procured goods from wholesales like William P. Barr Company and made a fortune in Leadville. He opened his own mercantiles in many Colorado towns and cities, but kept his eyes on the big-time. The fire sale of Famous was his 'in' to one of the largest business markets in the United States (STL was the fourth largest city in the country) , and a foothold to compete against commercial giants like Barr's. May then formed a company to be a conglomeration of his different department store holdings, of which Famous was the new flagship enterprise. He procured a rental facility on Broadway and Morgan Streets, and the new Famous Company opened its doors in September 1892 with a gala event. May continued to purchase department stores in other cities, and each operated with its original name under the umbrella of The May Company, whose headquarters were established in the same building with Famous. Famous-Barr In the latter half of 1911, William P. Barr and Company was in disarray. Earlier in the year, the massive store had temporally closed its doors to begin demolition and construction of The Railway Exchange Building. As the upstanding businessman that Mr. Barr was, he retained the entire staff on salary, but made an arguable mistake in not seeking out temporary space to keep Barr's operations going during construction. Cost overruns, particularly due to the enormous building needing to be built atop an ancient sandbar, made the board members nervous. When Mr. Barr passed away, these gentlemen approached David May. The merger of The Famous Company and William P. Barr and Company occurred in 1911, and was finalized by the start of the new year. An advertisement in February 1912 announced the formation of the new 'Famous and Barr Company.' Ad announcing the formation of the new company from February 12, 1912. The newly merged company continued on with The Railway Exchange project and moved in on September 8th, 1913, making Famous-Barr the largest department store in the world on that day. This beautiful building, clad in ivory-colored terracotta, covers an entire city block, rises 21 stories, and provides nearly 30 acres of floor space, or in excess of 1,300,000 usable square feet. The structure remained the world's largest commercial building until the 40-story Equitable Building in Manhattan finally managed to offer more floor space in 1915. Operations thrived, with annual sales topping over $40 million in the early years – at a time when the Federal Budget of the United States was $69 million a year – and Famous-Barr became a model for progressive business practices, offering employee healthcare, retirement plans, 40-hour workweeks, and equal employment opportunities at a time when most companies did not. The store eventually expanded to provide more than ten full floors of retail space in The Railway Exchange Building, and The May Company's corporate headquarters took up a large portion of the rest of the facility. Plans were drawn up in 1940 to expand the operations with three satellite stores, but were shelved due to WW2. The expansion occurred after the war, and Famous-Barr was the first department store in the nation to have 'suburban' outlets. By 2006 and the sale of The May Company to its longtime rival Federated Department Stores, Famous-Barr was pulling in $1.5 billion in annual sales, and had more than 35 locations in 5 states, many of which have now been shut down by Federated.

It's one of those things. I really can't explain it, but I do dream about a particular department store quite frequently. When I was six years old, my 1st grade teacher took our entire class on a holiday fieldtrip. We toured the big downtown stores, and were told to keep a tight grasp on each other's hands as we went along. At one, after huddling our cold noses against the plate glass to see the display windows, we went into the warmth. Massive chrome escalators – taller than me! – carried us up into the clouds, while our teacher pointed down to the floor. There, arrows were built right into the terrazzo to guide our way up to the next level, and Christmas was all around as we followed that magic path to ascended ever higher into the massive store – we were there to visit Toyland on the 8th floor, and Santaland on the 9th. That Christmas wonder seeped into my bones that day. It was in the smells, the music, the decorations, and most especially, it was keenly written on the happy faces of shopper and Famous-Barr staff alike. It's been brewing in my heart and soul for many years now, but I want to write a series of stories in praise of Christmas in that place, and over a number of years. I plan on writing 6 short stories, and 2 novellas, each covering a different Christmas season for years ranging from 1880 to 2006, and naturally, all centered on the downtown store of Famous-Barr. The first two installments are ready for this holiday season, and I thought I would offer a preview. So, without further ado, here is an excerpt from Katie's Sketchbook, Christmas at Famous-Barr 1976. Please let me know your thoughts. Katie's Sketchbook Preview: Part 2 – A Cast of Visitors Scene Two: "How do you do?" It was the end of their long day in the park; Katie ran into the house and left the door open. While Sloan was coming in, he heard her father's voice: "No running in the house" and "Get washed and changed – we're going out for dinner." As Sloan closed the door, Richardson appeared at the wide opening leading into the living room. Sloan went right up and started kissing. Richardson did not resist, but Sloan paused, as Richardson also did not engage. The younger man opened his eyes. Richardson's peepers were shining emeralds, but a bemused smirk played about the right corner of his mouth. "And what did I do to deserve that?" the older man inquired. "Nothing – like usual. We haven't seen each other since before Thanksgiving…and – and maybe I missed you." "Maybe, huh?" Sloan's response was to draw Richardson back into a bear hug. Movement from within the living room caught his eye just as Richardson sheepishly informed him "We have a guest." A six-foot-two-inch-tall woman advanced with an extended smile and hand. "How do you do? I'm Julia Child." The young man from Ohio weakly attempted to shake her hand while still latched onto Richardson. Mouth partially agape – until he swallowed the lump in his throat – Sloan finally managed to stand at Richardson's side and respond. "You most certainly are – " She interrupted with a friendly head-toss. "Now, don’t pay any attention to me whatsoever, boys. It seems you were in the middle of a most charming welcome home." Now, both 'boys' blushed. Sloan glanced to his side, thinking how Richardson had failed to mention exactly which celebrity he was shepherding around town. Katie came bounding in. "Hi! You're The French Chef, aren’t you?" "Yes, I suppose I am. You've seen me on TV, have you?" "Oh, yes! My dad said you were coming to town, and he watches you all the time – he's a good cook too, you know." Ms. Child raised her attention from the girl onto Richardson. "I'm sure he is. We've spent a good portion of our time together discussing food." Katie's enthusiasm began animating her whole body with heel-to-toe rocking. "You should have my dad make his famous Mississippi Mud Pie for you. Do you like chocolate?" "I do, and that very sounds nice." Richardson grew rigid next to Sloan's side, and interjected. "Katie, I could never presume to cook for Julia Child." The French Chef, unflapped, but bending down to Katie's level, told the girl, "Thank you for the reference, young lady. I may have to insist that he make it…" Her eyes drifted up to Richardson "Because I always follow local culinary recommendations." Richardson turned all-shades, and Sloan just wanted to laugh. Instead he said, "Well, I too can vouch for Richardson's amazing skills in the kitchen." Julia smiled. "And can you cook as well?" "Nope. But I am an expert eater." Ms. Child laughed, and placed her hand warmly on his forearm. "Dear boy, you sound precisely like my husband. Paul praises my cooking skills, and can even enjoy my failures." Sloan's face took on some color. "I didn't mean to suggest…Richardson…never 'fails' at food, at least not for me." The smile on Julia's face made Sloan believe he had just touched the woman in some way, but he was not sure how. (to be continued in October...)

Hello! I was working on this last night and thought I'd share. Let me know your thoughts ----------- Settling back, they sipped their blood-red wine as well as let the heady surroundings of the fall evening seep in. Yellow blobs of gaslight punctuated the air. They came from Victorian lampposts mounted atop low walls of brick enclosing tables in terraces, which fronted the sidewalk up and down the street. Noise drifted from all sides: violin and guitar serenades for various couples dining outside; bands performing in Dixieland and Jazz clubs; laughter wafting from the comedy club where Phyllis Diller was on stage at the moment. An easy mix of visitors and inhabitants moved about the district at night. Groups of penniless painters and bearded poets lounged on stoops with cans of Falstaff or Griesedieck beer. They observed but did not comment on the other collections of people inhabiting the sidewalks near them. Adolescents looked affluent and at ease in their prep school uniforms, while frat guys in sleek suits and pencil-thin ties stood around smoking and chatting. Some of these college-age students leaned on walls as little boys of color polished their shoes for two bits a pop. Young ladies congregated together too. Their flip hairstyles and mid-thigh dresses said they were out for a night of 'adventure,' hoping to draw the attention of one of the fraternity brothers pausing to have his patent leather buffed. Yes, Gaslight Square was Saint Louis' own Left Bank. Daytime coffee houses positively bristled with Beat writers, social activists, and artists both performing and visual who enjoyed each other's company and challenging conversation over one or two cups of joe meant to last the afternoon. So too in the bright hours, shoppers with money to spare perused art galleries and book vendors and then stopped to sit on the terraces with al-fresco cups of Irish coffee. At night, the flames were lit and a mellower mood descended like the throbbing rhythm of a Nat King Cole ballad. The smells of candlewicks and gloriously garlic food lured in diners with hypnotic insistence. Such a pair were Naomi and Bruce. "Did you know," inquired the young man, "that Joe Cunningham, the Cardinal's first baseman, lived right over there when the tornado of '59 ripped through." "No way." "Yes. I heard him on the radio. He claims him and 'a friend' were studying bible verses, in his bedroom, when the twister ripped off the roof. They barely got out of the way in time." She contorted her lips slightly. "Why do you say friend like that?" "Well, the person was a guy, and it was two in the morning." "Oh!" Naomi laughed. "That kind of friend. Well, here's to 'em." She lifted her glass to toast. "Nothin' like reading Leviticus in the middle of the night with that special someone." "Amen." ----------- Some images from the time: If you belong to Pinterest, you can see my small Gaslight Square gallery here. Also, Phyllis Diller was a STL housewife when she stared doing standup comedy in the Gaslight Square clubs. Soon she was 'discovered' and put on the national stage. Here's a fun little video; I loved her as a kid. I was such a Gay Boy!