PRESTO
ApriL 12, 1924.
CHRISTMAN
"The First Touch Tells y t
"NO BAR TO GROWTH" IS
STORY & CLARK MOTTO
It Was Applied When Company Sought to Ac-
quire Right-of-Way to Extension to
Busy Factory at Grand Haven.
A THRILL OF REALTY
Spur Demanded Purchase and Relocation or Razing
of Many Buildings, but Purpose Was Achieved.
Only 5 Feet Long
No Instrument is Better Known for
its Distinguishing Features than the
CHRISTMAN
Studio Grand
The story of the building of the new additions to
the factory of the Story & Clark Piano Co., at New
Haven, Mich., includes one of the thrilling romances
of realty which are incidents in the industrial growth
of American cities. But it would be difficult to
parallel the facts relating to the acquiring by the
Story & Clark Piano Co. of the Ferry Estate, one of
the landmarks of Grand Haven since the Ferry family
migrated there in 1833. Certainly, no real estate deal
ever presented greater difficulties, or was engineered
with greater finesse and brought to a successful con-
clusion.
Five years or so ago, when the demand for the
Story & Clark pianos and playerpianos began increas-
ing by leaps and bounds, the company realized that it
would only be a short time when it would be neces-
sary to enlarge the plant at Grand Haven. The old-
established Ferry Estate, directly opposite to the
plant, came on the market and was purchased, al-
though the main line of the nearest railroad was dis-
tant about four blocks, with no existing right-of-way
to it. The question was how to get the desired right-
of-way so as to build a spur into the addition of the
plant, which it was proposed to build.
Overcoming Obstacles. -
To obtain this right-of-way involved purchasing and
relocating or removing and relocating the houses,
telegraph and telephone poles and wires that occu-
pied the right-of-way, and also sacrificing many fine
old shade trees.
In some cases it was necessary to purchase lots in
more desirable locations, then to buy the lots on the
right-of-way, and, finally, to move the houses to the
better locations and to put them in "apple pie" order—
free of charge.
Other houses were bought outright and these were
salvaged by removing them to other lots and reselling
them. Houses that could not be moved were razed.
This work required the organization of an efficient
house-wrecking and house-moving crew. It was nec-
essary to overcome the opposition of neighbors who
objected to having their roads congested, the transit
Nor is there a More Remarkable
Development of Power, Expression
and Absolute Accuracy of Interpre-
tation than is found in the
lines blocked, telegraph and telephone wires disar-
ranged and old shade trees trimmed of some of
their finest branches. Permits from the city officials
to do all this work had to be obtained, and it was
ticklish work getting these without disclosing the
intended purpose. Complaints were made, but usually
too late to stop the work, which was underway five
minutes after the issuance of the necessary permit.
Site of Senator's Home.
William Montague Ferry, the pioneer, was a
Massachusetts minister of the Presbyterian faith.
From Mackinac, in a canoe paddled by Indian guides,
he followed the eastern and southern shores of Lake
Michigan, and finally settled at the mouth of Grand
River, which is now Grand Haven. The pioneer and
three sons were all in partnership, and eventually their
lumbering organization was one of the largest in the
vicinity. In 1867 the elder William Montague Ferry
died. One son, Thomas White Ferry, became clerk
of Ottawa County before he attained his majority.
In 1850 he was elected to the State Legislature and in
1860 to the State Senate. In 1864 he became a mem-
ber of the 39th Congress. He took his seat in the
U. S. Senate on the 4th of March, 1871. He was later
president pro tern, of the U. S. Senate, and at the
times of the Haycs-Tilden election was vice-presi-
dent of the United States.
The new addition to the Story & Clark factories
occupies the site of the home in which the senator
lived for many years.
C. W. LITSEY BACK FROM TRIP.
C. W. Litscy, treasurer of Lyon & Healy, Chicago,
returned this week from a trip in the West, and re-
ported business conditions improving rapidly in that
section. In Salt Lake City he found dealers very
optimistic over the future of business in Utah. Salt
Lake City has experienced many substantial building
improvements and is in a position to develop along
strong commercial lines, is the belief of Mr. Litsey.
A. HOSPE CO. ANNIVERSARY.
Big piano, player and reproducing piano sales for
March marked the celebration of the fiftieth anniver-
sary of the founding of the A. Hospe Co., Omaha,
Neb. Special events interesting to music lovers and
people of Omaha generally made every day of the
anniversary months important. All the newspapers
complimented Mr. Hospe on his successes due to his
admirable management.
BUCYRUS, O.. FIRM RETIRES.
The Smith & Heiby Music Store, in which Addison
Smith and Charles Heiby have been in partnership
since 1911 and which was established by Mr. Smith
in 1907, is going out of business. Mr. Smith stated
that the stores would be closed at the expiration of
the lease next October, unless a buyer is found for
the business as a going concern before that time.
GULBRANSEN DISPLAY IN BOOTH
CHRISTMAN
Reproducing Grand
THE FULL LINE OF
CHRISTMAN
Uprights and Players
Are favorites with dealers who sell fine
instruments. They are as Perfect in
Operation as can be made, and they
are the True Christman in Tone and
Construction.
We Witt be Glad to Send Particulars, Prices
and Terms to Live Piano Merchants
€(
The First Touch Tells
9 9
Reg. U S. P«t. Off.
Christman Piano Co.
597 East 137th St.
New York
The accompanying picture has many suggestions
for an alluring presentation of the Gulbransen Regis-
tering Piano at fairs or other occasions calling for
temporary but effective display. The display shown
in the cut was a successful effort of the Dunlap'Music
Store, Peekskill, N. Y. What was a portion of a field
at the fair grounds became an attractive piano sales-
room after a few hours' work by the clever window
dressing artist of the Dunlap Music Store. Gulbran-
sen banners, Gulbransen Baby cut-outs, Gulbransen
models, Old Glory overhead and nature's green carpet
underneath were the materials for an effective display
that sold many instruments at the last annual fair in
the thriving town.
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