As usual, I stumbled across some interesting facts about something I needed to research in my current work in progress. In this case, it wound up being the Denver Dry Goods Company. My characters had to go shopping for a few things, and when you’re my rich widow, Mrs. Pettigrew, you can go wherever you want. In this instance, she’s taken a young woman and her two younger siblings underwing, and is dragging them through the store. And what a store it is!
Little did I know that nestled in the heart of downtown Denver, Colorado stands a grand and historic building, known as the Denver Dry Goods Company Building. With its rich history and impressive size, it once claimed the title of largest department store west of Chicago. In 1916, a postcard boasted its impressive features: “The Largest Store in the Central West, spanning 400 feet in length with seven acres of floor area, employing over 1,200 workers, and holding a stock worth $1,500,000. That was a lot for way back in the day!
The huge department store is located on California Street between 15th and 16th streets in Denver. As the flagship store of The Denver Dry Goods Company, this retail establishment was part of Associated Dry Goods and underwent renovations under this parent company. Its motto, “Where Colorado Shops With Confidence,” is still fondly remembered by many residents of the state. However, in 1986, the store was acquired by May Company as part of Associated Dry Goods Corp.Originally built in 1889, the Denver Dry Goods Company Building underwent multiple expansions throughout the years in 1898, 1906, and 1924. Today, it has been converted into apartments but still retains its grandeur and historical significance. Standing tall and proud amidst the bustling city streets, it serves as a reminder of Denver’s prosperous past and its continued growth and evolution.
As my famous matchmaker, Mrs. Pettigrew lives in Denver, I get to have a lot of fun digging up little tidbits of history to put into my books.
Of course, when I think of department stores, I thing of Macy’s on 34th Street in New York. I loved shopping there and love the history of the place. But now I’ve grown curious about The Denver Dry Goods Company and plan to incorporate it a little more into my current Mrs. Pettigrew series.
I’m still working on Mrs. Pettigrew’s current matchmaking attempts, but here’s a little scene from the book that takes place in the Denver Dry Goods Company:
The next day after breakfast—an eventful affair as Tugs and the children played tag around the table until Hattie and Mrs. Pettigrew arrived—they went to town.
“Supplies,” in Mrs. Pettigrew’s mind, didn’t consist of just a pair of shoes and some socks for the children. No. They rode in the carriage to Denver Dry Goods, a huge department store where you could find just about anything. Abigail accompanied them, seemingly as a pack mule. She carried a stack of wrapped packages so high that the poor woman could hardly see. Hattie’s arms were just as loaded. With a child’s hand in each of hers, Mrs. Pettigrew led Esther and Carson to another department.“If ye don’t mind, Mrs. Pettigrew,” Abigail said from behind the wall of packages “I’d like to take these to the carriage.”
“Good idea, Abigail.” Mrs. Pettigrew began to peruse children’s shoes. “Hattie, go with her. Once the two of you have relieved yourselves of our purchases, return, and we’ll get some more!”
Hattie realized the woman had been using her first name all day. “More? Mrs. Pettigrew, you’ve already bought several dresses for Esther, as well as outfits for Carson. Not to mention hats, coats, scarves, mittens…”
“And now the little dears need shoes, socks, and let me see…” She turned to the children. “Some toys?”
Esther looked like she might faint. “Toys?” she breathed, her eyes wide. She spun to Hattie, her blonde curls bouncing. “May we, Hattie? It’s been so long…”
Hattie tried not to drop anything as she carefully patted her shoulder. “You can have one.”
Esther’s eyes widened at something behind Hattie, and she quickly straightened. Mrs. Pettigrew was holding up a hand, fingers spread wide.
“Five?!”
The regal woman shrugged. “It will save us a return trip, and they have a lovely toy selection here.”
Hattie adjusted the packages in her arms. “Please, I—”
Mrs. Pettigrew’s hand landed gently on her shoulder. “Calm yourself, ma petite. All is well, and I want to do this.”
Hattie forced a nod. She had met Holly Turtledove and Chastity Eastwick at breakfast. Both had once been assistants to Mrs. Pettigrew but were now engaged. That didn’t mean they no longer worked for her; the woman had sent them off on errands, and their betrothed had accompanied them. Did they go through this? What had the woman bought for them? Did they owe her?
“You don’t have to be on your guard every moment, ma petite,” Mrs. Pettigrew said gently. “Enjoy the outing.” She led the children to another display of shoes and began to speak with a salesman. His eyes bulged when she told him her name, and he hurried off to fetch his superior—just as the other clerks had when they learned who she was.
The head clerk of the shoe department rushed over, bowed, and smiled so wide Hattie thought his face might crack. He catered to Mrs. Pettigrew’s every whim and then some.
Hattie watched in fascination at first, then realized it was all about money. The salesclerks were likely hoping for a hefty tip.
She glanced at a display of shoes. “I don’t know this world…”
“You can learn it.”
Hattie jumped and spun around, her packages tumbling to the floor. “Mr. Forsythe!” She swallowed and smoothed the front of her pale blue coat. It matched her dress, hat, and gloves perfectly. “Wh-what are you doing here?”
He smiled, bent down, and began picking up packages. “I stopped by Mrs. Pettigrew’s, and Mrs. Fraser told me you were here. Rather than wait, I thought I’d join you.”
Hattie knelt to help. “I’m terribly sorry. I’m clumsy.”
“I startled you.”
She looked up, meeting his gaze, and noticed his beautiful blue eyes. Not that she hadn’t noticed their color before, but today…He rose, the packages in his arms, and smiled warmly. “I see Mrs. Pettigrew is having a good time.” He nodded toward her and the children. “And so are Esther and Carson.”
Still bent over, Hattie glanced at her stepsiblings. She had never seen Esther and Carson so happy. She stood. “Yes, she’s been getting them a few things.”
Mr. Forsythe laughed and lifted the packages higher in his arms. “I see that.”
Do you have a favorite place to shop that has an interesting history? Remember the old Woolworth stores? What about Lipman’s? Where did your grandparents or great grandparents shop that you still shop at today? I’m giving away one free ebook copy of Mrs. Pettigrew’s Valentine’s Match once it releases to one lucky commenter!
USA Today bestselling author Kit Morgan is the author of over 140 books of historical and contemporary western romance! Her stories are fun, sweet stories full of love, laughter, and just a little bit of mayhem! Kit creates her stories in her little log cabin in the woods in the Pacific Northwest. An avid reader and knitter, when not writing, she can be found with either a book or a pair of knitting needles in her hands! Oh, and the occasional smidge of chocolate!
I remember going to lunch at Woolworths in downtown SanAntonio, Texas which was across from the Alamo. My mother loved taking us to lunch there and a couple of times a year we got to go across the street and go through the Alamo.
I later attended and graduated from a Nursing School that was downtown and way back then we lived at the hospital in the Nursing School Residence. Sometimes on our day off some of my classmates and I would go there for lunch and just walk around and look at everything. What a nice memory for this 84 year old. Thanks for reminding me.
When I was in college there was a Weinstock’s department store in the mall that had a lunch counter in it. They made the best Chinese chicken salad I’ve ever had. That was back in the late seventies. The store closed sometime in the eighties as I recall. There went that Chinese chicken salad! I was not happy!
The local hardware store was such an interesting place to visit. My grandfather was a carpenter and I would frequently accompany him. To this day, I am just as happy going through a hardware store as any upscale clothing store! Incidentally, my first job was in Denver not far from the Denver Dry Goods building!
Oh wow, Ginni! How cool is that? On both counts! I remember going to the hardware store when I was little and marveling at the bins of nails and wondered if I should start counting them.
We had a local grocery store and hardware store side by side in my tiny hometown. At first, they were owned by the same family, but they eventually sold the grocery store, keeping the hardware store. Both stores are still operating today by a new generations of the same families.
That’s cool, Janice! Those are the kind of places where that family knows all the town gossip! It’s nice to see something like that passed down generation to generation.
I remember going to Roses Department store when I was small with the creaky wood floors and the penny candy you could buy by the pound. When you would pay for your purchase the clerk would put your money in a metal tray and send it upstairs with a pulling conveyance to another clerk. They would send back your change if you had some due. I still have a Roses store I can go to but the store is more modern now but still have good deals.
I’ve never heard of Roses, Connie. Of course, I’m sure a lot of people haven’t heard of Lipman’s.
here I can remember going to Indy to the Topps store in the late 1960’s but mostly all shopping was done locally at all the small shops around the square – most had at least 2-3 clothing stores and shoes were another 2 or 3 stores and men’s and women’s were not together either!
I remember when the men’s and women’s shoes were separated into two stores. Wow, I’d forgotten all about that!
When we would visit relatives in Chicago my Grandma would take us to Marshall Fields and reminisce about shopping there when she was growing up in the late 1800’s. Coming from a small town and seeing this elegant palace that carried almost everything you could want was overwhelming. The closest thing we had, that obviously didn’t rival Marshall Fields, were the hardware store and the feed store where if you couldn’t find it you didn’t need it!
Well, that’s a good old-fashioned philosophy! I’ve heard of Marshall Fields, but I’m not sure if I ever saw one here on the West coast.
As a youngster, there was one 5 and dime store in our home town which I loved to visit. They had a candy counter with all these glass fronted display cases with all kinds of chocolate covered and other varieties of candy. It was sold by the ounce. I misunderstood the designation for ‘ounce’ and I thought they were sold by the dozen. That’s what I thought the price was. The clerk chuckled a little and corrected me. Oh, the candy was so good and gorgeous. They had one which was chocolate covered and had a delicious inside which tasted like maple syrup and had a crunchy texture. I don’t know of they make it anymore. They DID sell other things but candy. They had these very tiny bottles of various perfumes/colognes. Lots of things came in really tiny sizes. To me it was quite an enchanting trip.
We had a five and dime store in my little home town too, Judy. It was simply called The Variety Store. My mother used to love getting candy at Lipman’s, which was a store in the Lloyd Center mall in Portland. She loved getting her Non Pareils dark chocolate candies. She loved those things!
I grew up in Anaheim, CA. Yes the home of the original Disneyland.
Our favorite downtown store was e SQR.
The SQR Store, a.k.a. S.Q.R. Store, later simply SQR, was a department store in Downtown Anaheim, California, one of the largest in Orange County of its time. SQR stood for August E. Schumacher (1881–1948),[1] Wesley P. Quarton and Oscar H. Renner
As kids we loved watching rhe pneumatic tunes and the lovely antique elevator.
Oh, how fun! And what a nice tidbit of history, Deb! I’ve never heard of the store, but then I grew up in Oregon.
Most of the places my mother and grandmother shopped are now closed.
Yeah, most of the places we used to shop at are closed now too. Good grief, entire malls are closing. But you can still find some great little places out there!
I remember the five and dime store we shopped at. I don’t remember my grandmother shopping there, but mom would go there. She would buy a small bag of fresh roasted peanuts and we would them as we shopped. To this day myself and my siblings love peanuts. I remember buying Black Jack gum there as well.
I remember when you could get fresh roasted peanuts! Sheesh, I’d forgotten all about that, Karijean! The only place I know of where you can get them is New York at a Simply Nuts cart!
Mast General Store in Valle Crucis, North Carolina was started in 1850 and is still running as a historic store today. They do not carry groceries or fabric but they do maintain the historic feel. They have another store in tiny Valle Crucis called the Annex which came about due to a flood. They have survived many floods , the latest being Helene. They also have satellite stores in many cities.
I’ve not heard of Mast General Store before, Emily. I’ll have to look them up for fun and see what the internet has on them.
in Canada we had T Eaton Company. It was started by an Irish immigrant in 1869, it’s long gone now and The Hudson Bay Co. which started as a fur trading company in 1670 and it still stands as the longest and oldest corporation in Canada and North America.
I know of The Hudson Bay Co. Kathleen, but have never heard of the T Eaton Company. It’s fun hearing about all these different stores from everyone!
I remember going to the Farmers Co-op with my dad when I was a little girl. It actually started in Ft. Smith, Arkansas in 1944 (the year my mom was born), and then opened another store in Van Buren, Arkansas in 1990. We got all of our animal feed there until a feed store opened in my hometown.
I vaguely remember Farmers Co-ops growing up, Kim. We always had Gerber’s Feed Store in my neck of the woods. It’s been there since the sixties.
I remember Woolworth’s.
Where I grew up, there was a Wilmington Dry Goods store, eventually bought out by Value City.
There was also an independent store off Main Street, the Newark Department Store. I still have a few decorative items from it.
Of course, for higher end items, John Wanamaker’s, Strawbridge & Clothier, Bamberger’s, etc…
A lot of the old stores had staircases, in addition to elevators or escalators. Or all three.
The National 5 &10 is still on Main St in my hometown. It has a mix of college gear and home goods.
I recognize some of those names, Denise! And yes, I always loved the stairs in the department stores! We lived in a log cabin out in the woods which was a one story. So going to the department store and running up and down the stairs was a treat!
how fun!
I used to work at Fowler Dick and Walker in Binghamton New York. It was a nice large department store in that city. It carried clothing. appliances, furniture, hardware, toys, cards, candy and list goes on. Especially loved the bargain basement. Also would go up the street to Woolworth and Jupiter.
I have friends in Binghamton! I’ll have to ask them if they remember Fowler Dick and Walker.
I used to love to visit my grandmother. There was a penny candy store and we would go with our pennies and get all sorts of goodies. I do remember the old stories as well.
Ah yes, there was nothing more fun than having a whole nickel or dime to spend on the penny candy, Debra!
Oh my but this research sounds like so much fun. I cant wait to read your book. We did most of our shopping in just regular stores. A family of seven had to watch what they spent. When we moved to the ranch, I learned to make my own clothes. I had a lot of fun with that. Once a year mom would give us a Woolworths magazine and we could circle (each of us five kids had a different crayon to circle with) what we would like for Christmas. That was so much fun. We all got at least two items from the catalogue for Christmas. It was so much fun to go through it and dream.
Christmas catalog shopping! It was the best, right? We got to do that too, Lori, but with the Sears of Penny’s catalog.
I really don’t have a favorite place to shop because all the places my grandparents and parents are mostly gone now. There is on grocery store that they shopped in a small town that I grew up in is still open. When I am in the area I will go in that grocery store and get a few things.
A lot of the places we used to shop at when we were young are all gone now too. I didn’t really have a favorite, but now I miss the old wood floors, the displays of candy, and other goods. But you can still find a few places out there that are still quite charming.
The book sounds like a really good read. I always enjoyed going to Woolsworth.
My mom used to love them, Barbara!
There used to be a small mom and pop store where my grandparents and parents used to buy groceries and when I was younger I remember going there for candies but its been long out of business, the owner passed and their kids didn’t want to continue with the store.
I imagine that’s the reason a lot of the old family owned stores went out of business, Laura.
Thanks for bringing this subject up, so interesting to read about all the different memories here. I liked going to Robinsons Department Store in downtown Los Angeles where they had an old lotion machine in the bathroom that would dispense a little bit into your hand for the price of one penny. They still worked until the 1990’s when the stores closed.
Oh wow! That’s cool. I’ve not seen a lotion machine in a restroom. It’s amazing they had one for that long.
Hi Kit, yes I remember Woolworths, they had one in El Paso TX and we loved going there when I was growing up. Later on there was a Globe store, I loved that store also and there was also a Fedmart which ws really nice also. Your book sounds like a great read and like so much fun! Thank you for sharing about it and about the store in Colorado. (not entering this ebook giveaway, but Thank you. I am not tech savvy at all) Have a great week.
I’m leaning about a lot of stores from different parts of the country I’ve never heard of because of this post! Some of them sound like someplace I’d like to have seen, Alicia.
The department stores my parents and grandparents shopped at are no longer here. I remember Mom taking us to Montgomery Wards and Kmart when we were kids. I took my boys to Kmart too. Both stores are gone now. Most of my shopping is at Meijer, Walmart or Amazon now. lol You know, the basics that you can find almost anywhere. Well maybe not Meijer…..
Mrs Pettigrew sounds like a hoot. I’m going to need to add her to my TBR list!
I’ve not heard of Meijer. There have been a lot of different stores mentioned in the comments, Carrie, that I’ve never heard of either.
As a child we were thrilled to get to go to a town near us where there was a Woolworth’s store and an Elmore’s. They seemed to have everything you could want, n a child’s eyes anyway. lol Such a shame that stores such as those don’t exist anymore. Even Sears stores had a candy counter, clothes, shoes, toys and household goods. All gone! No longer do we have an option to take our children to stores like those. It’s all online these days.
I love your Mrs. Pettigrew books and am so excited for the new one. I think I have read all of them, at least the ones I have found on Amazon. Is there a complete list of them somewhere? Thanks for the chance to win.
I’ll have to make a list and post it in Kit’s Corner on FB Sarah. I can’t remember if you’re a member or not. Mrs. Pettigrew has appeared in several different series.
I used to really enjoy going in to Marshall Fields back when they still existed. It was a lovely department store, especially around Christmas time.
Two other people have mentioned Marshall Fields. I wonder if that’s where our modern named Marshalls is from?
There was a store in Winchester, Indiana that had an upstairs and downstairs (can’t remember the name) several people have told me they loved shopping in there. It’s since been turned into a movie theater, I got to tour the basement and the upstairs ballroom area and now it is a Chicago’s pizza. I don’t think the upstairs or downstairs is used anymore, just the main floor. Growing up we shopped at Zayre and Val’s department stores.
Two more stores I’ve never heard of, Naomi. Different parts of the country, different stores. It would have been great to have seen them!
I don’t think the places I shop are historical. Thank you for the giveaway!
no fav place
I remember going shopping at Mongomery Wards Department Store in Butler, PA & also Woolworths with soda drinks and such for anyone who wanted them and the Woolworths was in downtown Butler, PA then as it turned out like me my Grandmother was a shopaholic so went to a lot of the stores in Butler , PA and as it turned out one of the managers at the store ended up being my Main boss since became the store manager of Bon Ton until they closed its doors for good so for me it was like full circle
Oh, wow, Crystal, that is going full circle!