The Boston Store: Fort Dodge’s Grand Department Store

The Boston Store was a landmark in Fort Dodge’s business community and a place that created lasting memories for generations. Its history begins with Richard Snell of Illinois, whose father, Thomas Snell, had owned the land since it was platted in 1856. Richard Snell envisioned a two-building complex on the property: the Boston Store and the Snell Building. The Boston Store was completed first, in September 1914, and would go on to become a centerpiece of Central Avenue commerce.

The business itself, however, predated the building. The store was originally founded in 1898 as Davidson’s Brothers, located at 526 Central Avenue. In 1900, Adolph Tuerke purchased the store and renamed it the Boston Store. The business thrived. By 1902, it had added a second entrance on North 6th Street to accommodate its growing customer base.

By 1904, the store was owned by Louis Charon. That year, the Boston Store gained wide attention through an inventive promotion: each 50-cent purchase gave a customer one vote, which could be cast for anyone they chose. The votes were collected in a large container inside the store, tallied each week, and totals were publicly announced. At the end of the contest, the five individuals with the highest number of votes were each awarded first-class, round-trip railroad tickets to St. Louis to attend the World’s Fair.

The Grand New Building of 1914

When the Boston Store moved into its new building at 809 Central Avenue in September 1914, the store became a true shopping palace. The structure included a basement, four full floors, and a balcony across the south end of the first floor. Each space had its own identity and wide variety of merchandise.

• First Floor: The main level housed women’s and children’s shoes, woolen dress goods and linings, silks, velvets, linens, wash goods, white goods, patterns, embroideries, laces, trimmings, neckwear, handkerchiefs and veiling, jewelry, leather goods, parasols and umbrellas, toilet goods and drug sundries, knit underwear and hosiery, gloves, notions, and bedspreads. A particularly elegant section was the drug department, directed by George Gilman, which featured rare French white ivory toilet articles. The Messenger warned customers to purchase these items quickly, since the war in Europe might cut off supply. Assisting Gilman were Mrs. Helga Rand and Miss Rose Pelican.
• Balcony: Stretching across the south end of the first floor, the balcony contained the general offices, the mail order department, cash cages for all five floors, the credit department, and the exchange desk.
• Second Floor: This was the Ready-to-Wear Department, offering women’s millinery, suits, coats and dresses, skirts, waists, furs, kimonos, and sweaters. The space was especially luxurious, with glass cases displaying dresses, suits, and coats on mannequins, full-length mirrors, velvet green carpeting, and glossy mahogany woodwork.
• Third Floor: The third floor contained hair goods and the beauty parlor, muslin underwear and corsets, an infants’ department, yarn goods, and art supplies. In the southeast corner was a restaurant and tea room. According to the Messenger, the tea room was not expected to make a profit but was provided “as a matter of convenience to the people.” Special lunches were served daily from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• Fourth Floor: This level displayed rugs, linoleum and carpets, draperies and curtains, wallpaper, shades, paints, pictures, and picture framing. A photography studio was also located here.
• Basement: The basement carried general merchandise and was home to special sales. Here customers could find trunks, suitcases, stationery, bedding, blankets and comforters, domestic prints, percales and cotton goods. A bakery also operated in the basement, adding to the variety.

Publicity and Events

The Boston Store carried on a tradition of clever promotions and publicity. In 1915, for example, forty-two salesgirls lined up outside the store for a parasol parade. Each one wore fashions sold by the store and carried a bright parasol. Together, they marched up and down Central Avenue for some twenty blocks. The parade took place in the middle of a busy afternoon, drawing considerable public attention to the store.

Fire of 1922 and Rebuilding

Tragedy struck in September 1922 when a fire devastated the Boston Store and damaged neighboring buildings. At the time, owner Louis Charon was traveling in Europe. When his ship docked in New York, a telegram awaited him with the news of the disaster.

The rebuilding process gave the Boston Store a new design. The top two floors, which had previously contained offices, were converted into retail space, expanding the store’s merchandising area.

A Lasting Legacy

For many years after, the Boston Store remained a premier department store in Fort Dodge, supplying residents with everything from fashion to household goods. More than just a store, it was a place where locals experienced community events, parades, and elegant touches like a tea room and beauty parlor. For generations of shoppers, the Boston Store was not only where they shopped, but also where they made memories.