Moose Jaw -
Allan Cumming Departmental Store was not only Moose Jaw's first "big city" store, it set a record for being the shortest-lived large business venture in Moose Jaw's early history.
The emporium opened its doors in the spring of 1913 in the newly-built Commercial Block, now known as the Maybee Block on High Street West.
For Moose Javians barely out of the frontier era, the four-storey building was a sight to behold.
The press described it as "a model of modern architecture," and the "best-lighted store in the West, there being natural daylight on all sides."
It took 12 fully-loaded freight cars of merchandise to stock the store for its grand opening.
Twenty departments, including a groceteria and delicatessen, were manned by a staff of 75, under the supervision of 18 department managers, many of whom had come from Eastern Canada.
The grand opening was accompanied by fanfare and optimism. By spiral staircase and elevator, crowds moved from floor to floor to view the latest fashions in apparel and household furnishings.
A big surprise was the women's restroom, which was not only equipped with the necessary fixtures but furnished with carpets, easy chairs and writing desks with free stationery.
T.D. Mitchell's Orchestra, an upbeat group of musicians originally from Winnipeg, entertained the crowds with hit songs and popular classics of the day.
A local club served a noontime lunch for 50 cents and afternoon tea for 20 cents, and turned over the proceeds to the YWCA.
Allan Cumming also announced it would be introducing the extensive use of copper coinage to Moose Jaw.
"In a large department store such as ours, where off-prices prevail, coppers are the only absolutely correct method of effecting change," said a store spokesperson.
Until this time, coppers were discouraged by most local businesses.
In the days that followed the grand opening, shoppers never returned to the store in appreciable numbers.
Some oldtimers said the store was located too far from Main Street. Another reason was the onset of a serious depression early in 1913, followed by the outbreak of the First World War.
A little over a year after its grand opening, Allan Cumming Departmental Store closed its doors and passed into history.
Moose Jaw merchant Herbert Snell also dreamed of having a store that would be the largest and most modern emporium in the city.
Snell, a young entrepreneur from Eastern Canada, came to Moose Jaw in 1904 at the beginning of an amazing boom period and entered into partnershiip with Harry Clarke, proprietor of a local men's wear store.
The partnership was dissolved in 1906 when Snell leased the north portion of the Grayson Block (now occupied by Pharmasave) and opened a women's wear shop soon recognized as the largest and most fashionable in Moose Jaw.
The new store was called "Correct Dress for Women."
Snell invited the women of Moose Jaw and district to see his latest fashions which included fur-lined coats, trendy new hip-length automobile coats, and both dress and walking skirts with fitted hiplines gradually flaring to the floor to show off the hourglass figure.
Waists (blouses) came in silks and laces with lots of tucking and hemstitching and overly high necklines.
In 1909, Snell moved up the street into a new building, which in later years housed the Princess Cafe and more recently. the Patio Restaurant.
Fortune smiled on Herbert Snell. While Western Canada basked in a boom, Snell's business prospered.
In August 1912, the Herbert Snell Co. Ltd. announced it would construct a large department store on the southeast corner of Main and Caribou Streets.
Construction began in January 1913.
The foundation was laid to carry six storeys but for the time being only three storeys and the basement would be finished.
However, by the end of 1912, the handwriting was on the wall. The boom was almost over and financial troubles emerged with the completion of the second storey.
When a serious depression set in early in 1913, Herbert Snell cancelled his lease, leaving the owners with a white elephant.
When the First World War loomed, the 50th Rifle Company was created in Moose Jaw and the command was offered to Snell. Later, Snell took command of the 46th Canadian Infantry Battalion, known as Moose Jaw's own battalion.
The battalion fought in the major battles of the war, but Snell was unable to lead his troops.
He was seriously injured in training exercises in Britain which forced him to serve behind the lines.
After the hostilities, the Snell family made its home in Eastern Canada.
The dream department store became known as the Johnstone Block and harboured an assortment of shops, offices and suites until several years ago when it was demolished.
