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Author: 
 
 Title: 
 
 The History of the house 
 of Hovey 
 
 Place: 
 
 Boston 
 
 Date: 
 
 [1919] 
 
MASTER NEGATIVE « 
 
 COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES 
 PRESERVATION DIVISION 
 
 BIBLIOGRAPHIC MICROFORM TARGET 
 
 ORIGINAL MATERIAL AS FILMED - EXISTING BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD 
 
 ' lUStNKSt 
 
 254.53 
 HB2 
 
 , V-* 
 
 Hovey, C. F., co., Boston. 
 
 The history of tho house of Hovey, contain- 
 ing some interesting reminiscences of almost 
 three quarters of a century* Boston, C. F. 
 Hovey co. il919?j 
 
 t32^^p, illus., ports. 
 
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THE LIBRARIES 
 
 School of Business 
 
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 LANDMARK 
 
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 SCHOOL of 
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 LIBRARY 
 
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 \yiustory qftki. 
 
 HOUSE of HOVEY 
 
 Containiny 
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 ^^jJiree <^^uariers of a 
 (Tntury 
 
 BOSTON 
 
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 C. F. HOVEY, Founder 
 
 The History of 
 The House of Hovey 
 
 ISTORY has been recorded in countless 
 ways. Ruined walls, crumbling roads, 
 withered parchments and printed pages 
 give us glimpses of past generations. In 
 more modern times, a fairly accurate 
 impression of a people may be gained 
 from the ledgers of trade. A vivid and 
 human story is told across the counter; what is claimed 
 as important in the daily living, the quality and quan- 
 tity of the buying show the social status of a community. 
 What is luxury and a convenience to one generation 
 becomes a necessity to the next. In the distribution of 
 merchandise we may read habits, taste and financial 
 conditions. 
 
 The growth of a commercial life in Boston is pecu- 
 liarly interesting because it is closely interwoven with a 
 picturesque and stirring history. The men engaged in 
 importing and mercantile enterprises were^mgn 
 strong of fibre who helped to shape the^ " ^ 
 affairs of the whole country. Nearly 
 every business street is redolent of\ 
 history; trading is tinged with >;^^:; 
 the dramatic. 
 
 Trade Centres of Boston~\^ 
 
 Th. commercial centre, off 
 
 Boston have been somewhat mi- 
 gratory. The spirit of tr^de has 
 
 Old Statf House 
 
H 
 
 D 
 
 IllllliiiiiiS^^^^^ 
 
 
 92 Summer Street 
 In 1846 
 
 i 
 
 
 gone before, like a will o' the wisp, and has lured quiet 
 and sequestered streets into avenues of business ; broad 
 playgrounds and historic sections have given way to 
 industry and in no other city have so many beautiful 
 residences become engulfed in the quicksands of trade. 
 How these centres have formed and widened is a story 
 in itself. 
 
 A community is formed when a number of people, 
 having the same objects and interests, are drawn into 
 close relations ; as a community grows needs increase ; 
 at the point where these demands are met, there is in- 
 tensive life and activity. As nothing is at a standstill, 
 interests widen and new groups are formed, more or less 
 remote, and so the centre of activity shifts from point 
 to point. 
 
 The Centre of the Dry Goods Market in Boston 
 
 Trade was first at the wharf, where the importers sold 
 to the wholesale dealers; trade then penetrated Kilby 
 and Water Streets, — moving gradually into Hanover 
 Street. In time Tremont Row and Washington Street 
 as far as Milk Street were given over to commercial life. 
 Another arm of trade reached from the sea front up into 
 Franklin and Pearl Streets. The boot and shoe trade 
 began to encroach upon the peace of those streets where 
 fragrant gardens and fountains were shaded by tall 
 elms. Great chimneys of industry etched the sky line. 
 
 At the time ships were bringing yard goods into port, 
 all sewing was done in the homes ; there were no ready- 
 made garments on the market. From this condition 
 came the speedy growth of the retail dry goods business. 
 
I(illll3ij!j|gii!iili^^ 
 
 {ii;!i:^ni!;«!i!!!!!!iii!ii;!iii;i!!lli!MMillilil^^ 
 
 I ^* 
 
 Trade at the Water Front 
 
 It has been claimed that the little clipper ships of the 
 early forties laid the foundation of the wealth of Boston 
 and gave it the reputation as a world port. In the early- 
 days, importing had a romantic and poetic flavor, for 
 the captains braved innumerable perils, — the sea, piracy, 
 mutiny and danger of loss in foreign ports. There was 
 not a port in the world that Boston ships did not have 
 the right of entry, and, in many cases, a monopoly. The 
 entire tea trade of China was held by Boston firms; 
 ships also brought silks, calicos, crepes, cotton, towels, 
 lace, beads, perfumes, preserves and boots and shoes. 
 
 All business centred on the wharves or in that vicinity. 
 Massive granite warehouses were erected and men met 
 at the water front to discuss and settle questions that 
 are now in control of the Chamber of Commerce and the 
 Board of Trade, In reference to that period the sea 
 front has been called the 'Wall Street'' of Boston. Cer- 
 tain it is, that every wharf has an unique history and 
 the names of the men connected with the importing 
 business appear on the records of our philanthropic and 
 educational institutions. Of that time, Emerson wrote, 
 Each street leads downward to the sea** 
 
 The Early History of the 
 C. F. Hovey Company 
 
 More than a prosaic record of 
 business, the history of the C. F. 
 Hovey Company is a strong and 
 important thread in the woven 
 pattern which we call commer- 
 cial progress. Out of its own 
 ,Rx^^ policy came new methods that 
 
 Faneuil Hall 
 
 ft 
 
 were adopted all over the country; out of its everyday 
 business was wrought an example of unassailable in- 
 tegrity. From the inception of the business in 1841, 
 the names of the men connected directly and indirectly 
 with the Hovey business have been the names of those 
 conspicuous in every great movement for the betterment 
 of the community. 
 
 First as importers and wholesale dealers, then as retail 
 dry goods merchants, the C. F. Hovey Company be- 
 |came an authority as an honored New England Institu- 
 tion. As a store it has occupied a central location, while 
 around it the commercial tides have circled, — ebbing 
 and flowing, — as restless as the tides of the sea. 
 
 The policy of the house has been conservative and at 
 the same time establishing new methods; it has been 
 sagacious but has held in check all short sighted or sen- 
 sational proceedings. In its expansion, the Hovey busi- 
 [ness has avoided inflation but it has extended its service 
 into wide territories. It has grown as the city has 
 I grown, — healthily and sanely. 
 
 In 1841, Charles Fox Hovey withdrew from the busi- 
 Iness of J. C. Howe, then located at 55 Kilby Street, and 
 [entered into partnership with Washington Williams and 
 ames H. Bryden. As importers and wholesale dealers 
 lin dry goods, they located at 65 Water Street. In 1842, 
 they adopted the firm name of Hovey, Williams and 
 [Company. 
 
 This proved to be a highly successful venture. How- 
 lever, Mr. Hovey was a man of progressive thought and 
 action. Influenced somewhat by the policy of A. T. 
 Stewart of New York, he decided to add to the business 
 |a branch of retailing. 
 
 Goods that came in on ships were sold as packages to 
 [the wholesale dealers and jobbers, who in turn broke 
 
 »\n> i- 
 
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(ii:Plli;ti:!!!!!!i:'iiyi!iillll!!|^Mili5^ 
 
 MllilSiiiiiilii!;!^^ 
 
 ^y;;:;:vj— ; 
 
 
 Boston Common, 1848 
 
 From an old print 
 
 I 
 
 SAMUEL JOHNSON 
 
 With the firm 
 from 1846 to 1899 
 
 them up and sold to the retail trade. This involved 
 three sets of store expenses. Mr. Hovey wished to reach 
 the consumer more directly. 
 
 With the end in view of establishing a business in 
 which he might set his more advanced ideas into opera- 
 tion, he took into partnership Richard C. Greenleaf and 
 John Chandler, who had been carrying on a retail dry 
 goods business on Washington Street. 
 
 Despite some opposition, Mr. Hovey decided to locate 
 on Winter Street. Many believed this to be foolhardy, 
 as it was turning away from the centre of trade then 
 moving up Washington Street. It was first desired to 
 secure the corner of Summer Street now occupied by 
 A. Shuman, but Thomas Wigglesworth erected a build- 
 ing in Winter Street and on September 9th, 1846, Hovey 
 Williams and Company located at number thirteen. It 
 may be of interest to know that the rent of the store at 
 that time was $2900. per annum. This was the first 
 business house on the street and the step was far from 
 hazardous. Prosperity came to the firni and many new 
 methods were introduced into the business that are con- 
 sidered important in the merchandising of today. 
 
 Mr. Hovey y a Commercial Pioneer 
 
 The founder of the C. F. Hovey Company did not 
 wait for paths to be blazed; he struck out into virgin 
 fields, entirely unafraid, — with the courage born of strict 
 integrity. He chose his associates wisely and he settled 
 questions for himself that have been threshed out in 
 more modern times. To worth, not to wealth, is due his 
 example of progressive achievements. 
 
 To Mr. Hovey is given the honor of being the first to 
 introduce the one-price system in retailing. At about 
 the same time A. T. Stewart in New York tried out the 
 method successfully. Previously clerks had obtained 
 
(iiiiiiiiliiSiii^^^ 
 
 what prices they could by "talking up" goods. Often at 
 the same counter, one clerk would rival another in sell- 
 ing the same kind of merchandise. This plan was dis- 
 tinctly offensive to Mr. Hovey, who always had the good 
 of the public at heart, and so in his store all goods were 
 plainly marked and he took for his slogan, ^'standard 
 goods at a standard pricey 
 
 Being just and for the good of all, this procedure at- 
 tracted attention and was adopted all over the country. 
 And so it was the inception of the C. F. Hovey Company 
 was more than the founding of a successful business 
 house ; it was the springing into life of a vital force in 
 the commercial world. 
 
 Another welcome innovation was that of early clos- 
 ing. In this Mr. Hovey's advanced ideas worked for the 
 good of all. All stores were in the habit of keeping open 
 during the evening and half after six was the earliest 
 hour of closing for any reason whatsoever. When 
 Hovey, Williams and Company shortened the working 
 hours for their employees other merchants did the same, 
 — in Boston and in all other cities, — and so this dry 
 goods house became an institution that was well known, 
 — with far reaching influences. 
 
 Mr. Hovey'' s Associates 
 
 In 1848, Washington Williams retired and the firm 
 name was changed to C. F. Hovey and Company. 
 
 In 1849, John Chandler retired and in 1850 James H. 
 Bryden died. 
 
 In the following year Henry Woods, Samuel Johnson, 
 Jr., and William Endicott, Jr., were admitted to the 
 firm. 
 
 In that fact alone there is a tribute paid to the com- 
 mercial standing of the C. F. Hovey Company, for these 
 three men represented that fine New England stock 
 which is the backbone of Eastern enterprise. 
 
 ^®»ii!S^^^^^^^^ 
 
 
 Mr. Endicott was a native of Beverly and a descend- 
 ant of Governor Endicott. He came as cashier for the 
 firm and in four years was given an interest in the busi- 
 ness, — shortly after being made partner. 
 
 The names of Henry Woods and Samuel Johnson 
 have been connected with the history of the city along 
 all the progressive lines. To 
 these men as well as to Mr. 
 Hovey belongs the credit of 
 keeping the business of C. F. 
 Hovey and Company invio- 
 late and respected. 
 
 It is difficult to find any 
 public-spirited movement of 
 his time that does not bear 
 Mr. Endicott's name. He was 
 President of the Museum of 
 Fine Arts, succeeding Martin 
 Brimmer. Twice in the history 
 of the Institute of Technology, 
 he has raised $250,000. to 
 tide it over financial obstacles. 
 He was the president of two 
 banks and a director in many, Tnmty Church before the Fiu 
 as well as a trustee of all the »/ i872^from old prim 
 great charities. He was not, however, circumscribed by 
 the activities of one city. He had interests as broad as 
 the country itself. Such were the men whom Mr. Hovey 
 drew about him and with such men he was associated 
 for long periods, — in fact until his death. 
 
 Emerson has described a great man as one who in- 
 habits a higher sphere of thought into which other men 
 rise with labor and difficulty. He must be a great man 
 who conceives plans to benefit mankind without waiting 
 for conditions or men to demand them. 
 
 I .. 
 
gPilHIiiiiiiiS!^^^^^^^ 
 
 A Yesterday in 
 Summer Street 
 
 WILLIAM ENDICOTT, Jr. 
 Member of the firm, and with them 
 from 1846 to 1910 
 
 [li!ip!i;!:i!!!i!l!i;iiiii;ij!lll!!iiill^ 
 
 In our present time — ^with the confliction of capital 
 and labor — we discuss the distribution of profit among 
 employees as if it were new to the present generation. 
 Those who were first to distribute what is known as 
 bonus, have been pointed out as progressives and to 
 their names have been attached a certain philanthropic 
 glory. 
 
 As early as 1854, C. F. Hovey beheld the vision of 
 profit sharing, and again as pioneer, he proceeded to 
 follow where his vision lead. To corroborate this fact, 
 a letter written from the Paris office, where Mr. Hovey 
 had gone on business connected with importing, is 
 quoted herewith. It not only reveals the man as a pro- 
 gressive thinker but as one who was generous to those 
 in his employ. Much homely philosophy and good com- 
 mon sense is embodied in the communication. 
 
 Paris, March 8, 1854. 
 "I wish you to get two thousand dollars from C. F. Hovey and Company and 
 to charge the same to my account. This money I wish to dispose of immedi- 
 ately as follows: — 
 
 "Divide it with those who have been with us since August 1, 1853, and 
 whom you still continue in your employ; let the dividend be in proportion to 
 the salaries they received between August 1, 1853, and February 1, 1854. 
 
 "I send this money to these persons because if they have been faithful, I 
 feel that it is doing them no more than justice. If there are any among them 
 who have not been faithful, so much the worse for them. 
 
 "If they will allow a person much older than themselves, — and one who has 
 probably had more experience,— to give them a word of advice, the time may 
 come when they will feel it was worth receiving and paying attention to; but 
 I must say that I have very little faith that they will follow my advice. 
 
 "In the first place, then,— in the language of John Randolph,— I want to 
 say to them,— « ^pAY AS YOU GO.' 
 
 "Then I would say to them, *do your own thinking on all subjects and save 
 the Priests, Doctors of Divinity, Generals, Judges, Lawyers, Doctors and States- 
 men the trouble of thinking for you. — ^which they are always ready to do.' I 
 assure you that these great people, whom I have named above, are only* (as 
 the French say) 'Grande par que nous sommes a genou' which may be trans- 
 lated thus, The great only appear great to us because we are on our knees.' 
 
 "I should add, however, that grand in French, means tall as well as great. 
 
 "After thinking freely for yourselves at all times, dare to say what you 
 think, however unpopular your thoughts may be, and remember a dead fish 
 can swim down stream but it takes a live one to swim up. 
 
 "I remain, Yours very truly, 
 
 C. F. HOVEY." 
 
H 
 
 ililll'iiiiiiiliilli^ 
 
 MOOilS'ii^^^^^ 
 
 It has always been believed that much character is 
 revealed in letters and it is from letters that we have 
 gained the most intimate glimpses of public men. 
 
 This letter expresses the spirit that ruled the life of 
 Charles Fox Hovey and shows why the business of a 
 retail dry goods house has persisted so long without a 
 change of its honorable policy. Strong convictions laid 
 the foundation and he chose the best men of the time 
 for his business associates. 
 
 It is his own free thinking and his daring speech and 
 action that gave us his methods for an example today. 
 He dared to take steps in his business and to take them 
 alone, that others have chosen after discussion, consid- 
 eration and — often then — reluctantly. 
 
 The New Store in Summer Street y 1854 
 
 In many of the busiest streets of Boston, on stone 
 walls and on the sides of great business structures, there 
 are bronze tablets to mark historic events or to call to 
 mind the grateful thought of a philanthropist or re- 
 former. But there are few tablets to mark the passing 
 of fine old homes of chaste symmetry and classic design 
 that have been replaced by offices, banks and stores. 
 There are few written pages that record the growth of 
 the retail houses in Boston ; and yet, nearly all the great 
 department stores are located upon historic land or upon 
 splendid estates belonging to the old royalists, the 
 Huguenots or the early settlers of Boston. 
 
 The land upon which the C. F. Hovey Company is 
 located is part of a famous estate. The mere fact that 
 the Hovey business came to Summer Street, September 
 9th, 1854, and that the store was the only business house 
 on the street, is only the beginning of an interesting 
 story. 
 
 The estate upon which the store stands was in exist- 
 ence when Boston was laid out, — ^which cannot be said 
 of many others. The original owner, Sir William Pep- 
 perell, was a royalist, and when the difficulties at home 
 called for his adherence to the crown, his property was 
 confiscated. It passed to the ownership of Thomas 
 Hubbard and then to Leonard Vassall, whose property 
 extended to the estate at the corner of Washington 
 Street which wa^ owned by Thomas English. 
 
 Leonard Vassall was also a royalist and the property 
 was again confiscated and passed into the hands of 
 Frederick William Geyer. 
 
 At that time there were many wonderful mansions in 
 the vicinity, including those of men whose names honor 
 our public buildings and streets. There was much 
 wealth; great farms stretched on every hand, — north- 
 ward along the Merrimac River and in Medford, Lex- 
 ington and Concord. The post chaise was a means of 
 communication. 
 
 The Geyer mansion was one of the most wonderful 
 in the country. Here congregated the men of letters 
 and strong adherents to the crown. The life of the home 
 was one of magnificent prodigality. 
 
 Within the area of the C. F. 
 Hovey Company's store, great 
 men have argued, quarreled, 
 laughed or danced. Rotation 
 is one of the great funda- 
 mental laws of nature. 
 
 The Father of ^jueen 
 Victoria a Guest 
 
 When the Duke of Kent, .^^,^ 
 fourth son of George III and ^^"-^^ 
 the father of Queen Victoria, 
 
 
 Darnel Webster's Home 
 Summer y High Streets, 1850 
 
w 
 
 !i«IKj|!S^^^^^^^^ 
 
 The Old Gardner 
 Estate 
 
 ;!i:!i^illlSli!!!i!i!iii;iii!ii;i!!llliPGIi^ 
 
 came to this country, he attended the wedding of 
 Rufus Amory and Nancy Geyer in the mansion on 
 Summer Street. It is supposable that his real mission 
 was not to dance at a wedding, for there was much of 
 interest going on in political circles. 
 
 When the royalist departed for England to prove al- 
 legiance to the crown, the estate was again confiscated, 
 and in time it became the property of S. P. Gardner, 
 whose initials still are seen upon the front of the Hovey 
 store. 
 
 Horticulture had become a pleasant study and pas- 
 time, — the love of gardens having been transplanted 
 along with other English ideas, — and the Gardner estate 
 was among the most beautiful. Wonderful flowers and 
 shady walks, fountains, towering elms, — all contributed 
 to the beauty of the place. Fruit trees were abundant 
 and it is said that one pear tree was left standing in the 
 garden as late as 1870. 
 
 As neighbors, the owners of the Gardner estate en- 
 joyed the association of the best families that the city 
 has known. The residential life of Boston has been as 
 restless as the commercial. It has drifted from one 
 beautiful section to another. If historic and beautiful 
 streets have been given over to business, it is the wealth 
 accruing from such changes that have made possible 
 the extensive parks, playgrounds, charities, libraries and 
 schools of a cultured city; as the times grew less trouble- 
 some, men turned their attention to the needs of fellow 
 man. 
 
 The Busines Conditions of the Time 
 At the time C. F. Hovey and Company came into 
 Summer Street, the valuation of the land was $3.50 per 
 square foot. Land at the foot of the Common was selling 
 at seventy-five cents a foot and at the corner of Boylston 
 and Tremont Streets the value was one dollar a foot. It 
 
 !i 
 
 
MKiBliiS^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 
 was said at that time that land would never be any 
 higher in Boston. The city had about 130,000 inhabi- 
 tants and it was said that throughout the country there 
 was a dry goods house to every two thousand inhabi- 
 tants. There were about thirty banks in the city and 
 seventy churches. The principal buildings were the Old 
 State House, Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market, the Court 
 House, a Hospital and a Jail, the Merchants Exchange 
 and the old Athaeneum Art Gallery on Pearl Street. 
 
 As Mr. Hovey was often in Paris on business con- 
 nected with the Company, the equipment of the store 
 fell largely upon Mr. Endicott. The store was about one 
 hundred and eighty feet in depth with a seventy foot 
 front. The lease for the first ten years was based upon 
 five per cent for the value of the land and ten per cent 
 for the value of the building. 
 
 Under pleasant auspices the store expanded and the 
 business increased, having the trade of the exclusive 
 families in that section as well as a wholesale business 
 of magnitude throughout New England. 
 
 The Panic and ^^ Family Bills " 
 
 In 1857, several large insurance houses in the west 
 failed. As a fire in the forest catches from tree to tree, 
 so the financial depression swept across the country and 
 house after house was wiped out of existence. Many 
 commission houses failed. 
 
 Mr. Hovey believed that the credit system was largely 
 responsible for the condition, — something that has been 
 detrimental in our own day. There was long credit be- 
 tween the wholesale dealers, the jobbers and the retail 
 dealers, but the difficulty that seemed most threatening 
 was ''the family bills" 
 
 It was the custom in all stores to allow charge ac- 
 counts to run a year. All the family bought upon the 
 
 family bill and accounts were rendered on December 
 31st. The store was thus deprived of the use of ready 
 money and of the interest. 
 
 With his usual fearlessness, Mr. Hovey was the first 
 to begin the monthly payment system that was soon 
 adopted throughout the country. The Hovey business 
 maintained its strength throughout the period of finan- 
 cial depression and suffered no diminution of success. 
 
 The Yesterdays of Summer Street 
 
 Than Summer Street, no thoroughfare of its length 
 can boast such an interesting residential history. Origi- 
 nally the street was called -'Ye Mylne Street," and after- 
 ward ''Seven Star Lane," so named for Pleides Inn," 
 afterward Seven Star Inn. In that day Temple Place 
 was "Turn Again Alley" and High Street was "Cow 
 Lane" 
 
 State and Milk Streets have an historic interest, but 
 Summer Street has its literary association. Men who 
 are distinguished in letters throughout the world have 
 played as children in the pasture lands bordering the 
 street. At the foot of the street was a fine view of the 
 harbor and an inlet extended to the junction of Franklin 
 
 and Devonshire Streets. 
 Vanten the artist, — 
 who was a companion 
 of the famous ship- 
 wrecked Parson Avery, 
 — has left a 
 water color 
 of Summer 
 Street show- 
 ing the beau- 
 tiful shade 
 
 I 
 
 trees. It was a street 
 of wrought iron fences 
 enclosing fragrant gar- 
 dens watered 
 ^ by fountains. 
 Opposite 
 the Hovey 
 store stood 
 Trinity 
 Church, with 
 its three rows 
 of vaults for 
 
 CkufcfrCr^fn, 
 
 11 
 
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 illilll!i;liiS^^^^ 
 
 the dead. The original church was built in 1735 and re- 
 built in later years. Here George Washington wor- 
 shipped when he was in Boston. Famous Peter Faneuil 
 owned Pew 40 in this church. 
 
 On the corner of Hawley Street was the home of 
 Governor Sullivan, who laid out Hawley Street across 
 his farm and gave it to the city. -"Billy" Gray, the 
 wealthiest man in Massachusetts and the owner of sixty 
 rigged ships, was also an owner in the vicinity. The 
 home of Daniel Webster was at the corner of Summer 
 and High Streets. Here Lafayette was entertained. 
 
 In Winthrop Place, now Devonshire Street, lived 
 Rufus Choate, Henry Higginson and Thomas Motley, 
 father of the great historian who was born there. Below 
 near Bedford Street, on Summer, lived John P. Gushing, 
 whose name will be respected for his honorable dealings 
 with China. His fine old home and oriental servants 
 created interest in their day. 
 
 At the comer of Oris Place, named for a householder, 
 Harrison Gray Oris, lived the historian Bancroft, and 
 often in his home were entertained Margaret Fuller and 
 William Ellery Channing. 
 
 James C. Paige lived in Summer Street and his neigh- 
 bor was Col. James W. Seaver, whose wife gave Seaver 
 Hall to Harvard. 
 
 Other names well known to the world are connected 
 with that neighborhood sociability for which Summer 
 Street was noted, — Benjamin Apthorp Gould, astrono- 
 mer, H. Hollis Hunnewell, and not to be forgotten was 
 the home, near Daniel Webster's of Nathaniel 
 Bowditch, "Navigator," a man who left such valuable 
 information to seafaring men. 
 
 Residential Chauncy Street 
 Named for the first pastor of First Church. 
 The street whereon Ralph Waldo Emerson was bom 
 
 holds interest to the world but for many other reasons 
 the street occupies an unique place in early Boston 
 history. 
 
 The First Church of Boston, — founded in 1860 by 
 the society of the actual first church of the city, was 
 built in 1807 and the "Church Green" shaded by tall 
 lombardy poplars was a famous spot. In this street 
 lived Emerson's father in the parsonage, as minister of 
 the church for twelve years. 
 
 Near by lived, at various periods, George Cabot, 
 Henry Cabot Lodge, George Bond, Samuel Baxter, 
 Gideon Thayer, Rufus Ellis and Nathaniel Frothing- 
 ham, — all names revered in the memory of Bostonians. 
 
 Here lived Isaac Rich, Lee Claflin and Jacob Sleeper 
 who founded Boston University and here Chauncy Hall 
 School began. 
 
 The famous surgeon, Henry Bigelow and Robert Win- 
 throp also lived in Chauncy Street. Adjoining what is 
 now the Hovey store, lived the brother of Commodore 
 Perry. 
 
 Changes Come 
 
 In 1859 Charles Fox Hovey died. No better trlbutl 
 can be paid to this man than to say that the businesjj 
 which he had built upon a /jy/. .,-.^i^ 
 thorough foundation, re- \} L^^^y 
 mained secure in its position 
 and that his work did not 
 crumble when his hands were 
 withdrawn. Above the many , 
 innovations and movements ; 
 far in advance of the thought 
 of his time, he is reverenced 
 for his integrity, his good citi- 
 zenship and his philanthropic 
 generosity. 
 
 House of fFUliam Gray, corner of 
 Summer U Kingston Streets^ 1850 
 
 ,Qi 
 
 % 
 
H 
 
 In 1859 a partnership was formed by admitting to the 
 firm, — ^Thomas Mack and Augustus De Puyster. 
 
 These were the men on whom it devolved to carry the 
 business of C. F. Hovey and Company through the 
 period of the Civil War. That they played a notable 
 and honored part is attested by the courteous act of 
 Governor John A. Andrews in recognition of the many 
 generous contributions made for the war. 
 
 In this connection we quote the following letter: — 
 
 Messrs. C. F. Hovey & Company, 
 
 Gentlemen : — 
 
 "His Excellency, Governor Andrews, directs me to enclose to you four com- 
 missions as Justice of the Peace, addressed respectively to Richard C. Greenleaf, 
 Samuel Johnson, Jr., Henry Woods and William Endicott, Jr., Esquires,— as 
 ^ if- u°^^ ^°^^" °^- '*^co^j^»o"»--b«sides his most grateful acknowledgement,— 
 which he finds within his power to make, — of your constant and generous 
 contributions to the cause of the country; and with assurances of his Excel- 
 lency's high consideration and respect. 
 "I have the honor to be 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 A. G. BROWN, JR., 
 
 Private Secretary." 
 
 From No. 79 Rue Richelieu,— the Paris office of the 
 Hovey Company, came a reply in the somewhat formal 
 and distinctive style of that day, disclaiming any merit 
 of generosity and affirming eagerness to place all grati- 
 tude and honor with those who had given their lives to 
 the cause. 
 
 The period following the war brought the usual buoy- 
 ancy in industrial and economic conditions, followed 
 by a corresponding depression. 
 
 In 1870 Edward C. Johnson 
 and the late Samuel P. Mandell 
 were admitted to the firm. 
 
 Mr. Mandell had been in the 
 Hovey business since 1848. He 
 had often stated that his first 
 salary was one hundred dollars 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 
 T^'^fW.i 
 
 >it. 
 
 'Ui 
 
 I 
 
 amiMSL H JMUiroffl8tl^^ 
 
 a year. After only eleven months he was made a sales- 
 man and when the business came into Summer Street 
 he was given a responsible place in the wholesale busi- 
 ness, attending to the New England trade and making 
 several trips to the Paris office. Mr. Mandell had many 
 other interests, having been President of the Boston 
 Transcript business for about forty-five years. He was 
 made Vice-President of the Hovey business in 1914. 
 
 Mr. Edward C. Johnson entered the firm in 1870 and 
 was one of that close partnership that endured for so 
 long and by enduring held the reputation of the busi- 
 ness at its high standard. 
 
 TAe Boston Fire 
 
 Every business enterprise has some point in its his- 
 tory that is tinged with the effect of the great fire of 
 1872. The C. F. Hovey store is not without its unique 
 experiences at that time. 
 
 It is common history that the fire originated near the 
 small engine under the elevator in a building on the 
 south easterly side of Summer and Kingston Streets. 
 The fire crossed Kingston Street, at the comer of Sum- 
 mer, glided along the roofs of Chauncy Street, feeding 
 upon the wealth of merchandise with which it came into 
 contact. Spreading up Summer the fire crossed to Wash- 
 ington ; it passed through High, Devonshire, Otis, Haw- 
 ley, and took its course to State Street. It continually 
 raged northward against the wind until it had laid waste 
 the whole area that comprised the business section of 
 Boston. 
 
 On the morning after the fire, the store of C. F. Hovey 
 Company was the only building left on Summer Street. 
 
 The saving of the Hovey building was accomplished 
 in a manner that we might in this day call primitive but 
 
 ift 
 
 
 11 
 
 1^ 
 
 King's Chapel, I860 
 
!)ll!i» SS^^^^ 
 
 it was none the less effectual. Also much credit — per- 
 haps all credit, — is due to an employee of the store. 
 
 The buyer for the blanket department was the chief 
 of the Quincy Fire Department and when the second 
 alarm came, he brought his company into the city and 
 without reporting at City Hall he made his way to the 
 Hovey store. Forming his brigade, he took blankets 
 from the store and covered the roofs and all the win- 
 dows. Keeping these wet, and forming a bucket line 
 to the roof he was able to save the building. On the fol- 
 lowing morning a letter was received from the Boston 
 Fire Department which it seems fitting to quote. 
 
 C. F. Hovey & Company, 
 Dear Sirs: — 
 
 "I cannot longer delay from expressing to you my gratitude and thanks for 
 the forethought and valuable assistance rendered to me and the department 
 that I command, as well as to the city of Boston for the herculean labor of 
 your force in the protection of your property on Summer Street by placing 
 blankets on your windows and keeping them wet. If the merchants of Boston 
 who have suffered would have done the same the desolation of this morning 
 would not be so great. 
 
 Yours sincerely, 
 
 JOHN S. DAMRELL, Chirf Engiruer.** 
 
 Substantial aid was given to the sufferers and among 
 the donations was that of C. F. Hovey and Company 
 for ten thousand dollars. 
 
 In 1882, Henry Endicott retired, and in 1887 Richard 
 C. Greenleaf deceased. In 1894 Thomas Mack retired 
 and Samuel Johnson second, William D. Mandell and 
 Wolcott H. Johnson were admitted to the firm. 
 
 Following came the death of George L. Lovett, Sam- 
 uel Johnson and Henry Woods, later the retirement of 
 William Endicott, — after sixty-four years a member of 
 the firm, and Wolcott H. Johnson deceased. 
 
 Despite this record of change there is hardly a firm 
 that holds such history of long partnership as the C. F. 
 Hovey Company. It has always been said that one of 
 
 ^iHi-il !S^^^^^^ 
 
 illlllSiS^^^^ 
 
 the basic secrets of the firm's success was the mutual 
 respect, confidence and consequent harmony existing 
 between the members. 
 
 There are few examples of such life-long association 
 as that of Messrs. Mandell, Endicott, the two Johnsons, 
 Greenleaf and Woods. 
 
 These five associates were together thirty-nine years. 
 After the death of Mr. Greenleaf and Mr. Johnson the 
 elder, the remaining three were in partnership for fifty- 
 four years. In the entire span of seventy-three years 
 there were only seventeen partners. 
 
 In 1914 the name of the firm was changed to The C. 
 F. Hovey Company. 
 
 On July 1st, 1919, Mr. E. C. Johnson and Mr. Samuel 
 P. Mandell retired from the firm of C. F. Hovey Com- 
 pany. 
 
 Mr. Samuel Johnson was made President, and Mr. 
 Louis Rivers was admitted to the firm as Vice-President 
 and General Manager. Mr. Rivers is well known to the 
 general dry goods business community, having been 
 continuously in the business in nearly all merchandizing 
 capacities since 1882. He began his career as utility 
 boy with the fine old firm of G. V. S. Quackenbush, of 
 Troy, N. Y., where he remained about ten years. 
 
 Mr. Rivers' ambition for something bigger^an^^^more '^. ^ 
 promising for the future took him to the -bt)U5e of 
 Frederick Loeser & Company, 
 of Brooklyn, N. Y., leaving 
 there as an assistant buyer to ^ ^ 
 assume his first responsibility 
 as buyer for James McCreery 
 & Company in their old store 
 at Broadway and 11th Street 
 in New York City. 
 
 Corner of Summer y Hawley Streets^ 1850 
 
 ml 
 
Boston Harbor, 1848 
 
 From an old print 
 
 8YMRNA TOWELS - Two B»1m 
 Bathing TowcU iu»f received by the 
 "CauUpa" from Svmrma and for »!e 
 by C. F. Hovir V Co., K» Winter St. 
 
 Jc 10 
 
 ► rom Dauv En-T«A»<»ctirT. Aii(M 17, Il4« 
 
 '3» 
 
 He remained there long enough to absorb a great deal 
 under the personal direction of that able old merchant, 
 James McCreery. 
 
 On February 1st, 1920, Samuel Johnson retired, and 
 Mr. Rivers was elected President and Mr. Joseph 1. 
 Gilman Vice-President. 
 
 Mr Rivers is an organization man. His first work 
 has been to surround himself with the best force that 
 he could secure to handle the details of the business In 
 doing this, he found that for knowledge of merchandise 
 of the more dependable sort, the old Hovey organization 
 was second to none. Therefore, action was taken to 
 add considerably to the garment organization, to accom- 
 plish its proper extension and to secure heads ot the 
 various sections to assist and direct buyers. This was 
 done to give the buying organization daily assistance 
 from trained merchandise people. 
 
 Extensive alterations have been going on since Aug- 
 ust first, and today the store has fifty per cent, more 
 selling space for retailing which was found by elimi- 
 nating the jobbing departments. No great changes 
 were made in the old force, no old employees were 
 dropped but the force has been increased twenty-five 
 per cent. Sales have increased ninety per cent. 
 
 The merchandise policy of the company is to con- 
 duct a high-class department store along the old 
 Hovey standards in every branch of the business and 
 with the hope of co-ordinating all departments, so that 
 each department will do its share to provide adequately 
 the kind of merchandise that will be a credit to the 
 honored name of C. F. Hovey. 
 
 To that end it will be the aim to carry that quality 
 and assortment of merchandise and to give the kind of 
 
 I • 1 
 
 I 
 
 • 1 
 

 
 ■;«s<- 
 
 '% ^,^: 
 
 V 
 
 service which was characteristic of the old store and to 
 nr7se"e the name that has stood for dependabihty and 
 honorable dealing with customers. ,New mes wUl b 
 added that will appeal to the old clientele and to the 
 others whose patronage is sought. 
 
 Mr. Oilman came into business from Dartmouth Col- 
 lege, class of 1905. He came from a f ami y noted or 
 scholastic and scientific achievements. History and 1 1- 
 erature -and a full share of athletics,-were his great- 
 e Unteresr His business experience has been gamed m 
 the baSng business in Baltimore and banking and 
 merchandising in New York and Boston. 
 
 At the present time Mr. Oilman's activities are with- 
 in^ie wo'rL that today is so essential - the d^^|-^s 
 business —that of The Personnel Problems .^xpense 
 and sSice features. No one is better qualified fo^^ 
 this work than Mr. Oilman whose adaptable and under- 
 
 sUnZg nature enables him to ^t^ "t coSl 
 oiicstions relative to the human factor. 1 he coraiai 
 frieSess throughout the store is attributed m a great 
 measure to Mr. Oilman's influence. 
 
 The C F. Hovey Company maintains buying othces 
 at 1164 Broadway.New York, and at 12 Rue Ambroise 
 
 Thomas, Paris. 
 
 The Directors of the Present Company are: 
 
 LOUIS RIVERS 
 J. T. OILMAN 
 ADOLPH EHRLICH 
 A. C. RATCHESKY 
 EDWIN J. DREYFUS 
 
 JOSEPH T. OILMAN 
 Vice-President 
 
1 'i 
 
 iiiliillliSS^^^^^ 
 
 
 jffl^tiiaiiiip^ 
 
 E. CROSBY JOHNSON 
 
 Member of the firm, and with them 
 from 1870 to 1919 
 
 SAMUEL PIERCE MANDELL 
 
 Member of the firm, and with them 
 
 from 1870 to 1919 
 
 WOLCOTT H. JOHNSON 
 
 Member of the firm 
 from 1894 to 1912 
 
 SAMUEL JOHNSON IL 
 
 Former President of the Compi^\ 
 
 and with the firm 
 
 from 1894 to 1919 
 
 X -i- ^^ ^loH mAi 
 
 THE HOVEY STORE 
 In i8S4 
 
 w 
 
 ;i 
 
lii-PIIIIISiillSliilljiSjiiiiilllil^Oil^ 
 
 t 1 
 
 Hovey, Williams & Company 
 1841-1846 
 
 C. F. Hovey & Company 
 Since 1846 
 
 Members of the firmjrom 1841 to 1919 
 
 C. F. HOVEY .... 
 WASHINGTON WILLIAMS 
 J. H. BRYDEN . . . 
 WM. ENDICOTT, JR. . 
 HENRY WOODS . . . 
 SAMUEL JOHNSON . . 
 JOHN CHANDLER . . 
 RICHARD C. GREENLEAF 
 THOMAS MACK . . . 
 AUGUSTUS DE PEYSTER 
 E. C. JOHNSON . . . 
 S. P. MANDELL . . . 
 HENRY ENDICOTT . . 
 GEORGE L. LOVETT . 
 WOLCOTT H. JOHNSON 
 W. D. MANDELL . . . 
 SAMUEL JOHNSON . . 
 
 1841-1859 
 1841-1848 
 1841-1850 
 1846-1910 
 1846-1902 
 1846-1899 
 1846-1849 
 1846-1887 
 1859-1894 
 1859-1870 
 1870-1919 
 1870-1919 
 1875-1882 
 1873-1897 
 1894-1912 
 1891-1914 
 1894-1919 
 
 I! 
 
 V>an\As Vrin^rxz Co., 
 Boston 
 

 THE HOVEY STORE 
 In 1846 
 
 ■LiiiL^ - I ., jjij. . -„ i , ...ijij i m.,w.jj i 4i.i. 
 
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 D254 . 53 
 
 H82 
 
 The history of the House of Hoveys 
 
 ^a^^/3> 
 
 Nf^a- 
 
 F-EB 7 1946 
 
END OF 
 TITLE