REMEMBERING 3: More on the A.J. Olsen Company, as shared by Sam Sylvester.
He has described the management, the interior of the store, its remarkable staircase and its pneumatic tube system.
After 30 years in operation, A.J. Olsen closed its doors. On Aug. 26, 1965, a story in The Era read, “Demolition on the commercial center project is scheduled to start today. The Newell Building housing the A.J. Olsen department store and Friedman’s Clothiers will be the first to be razed. The demolition of the Main Street Diner will follow.”
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BACK TO SCHOOL: Olsen’s had a back to school sale in 1944 with fashions not only for school children, but also for homemakers, those with weekend plans requiring sensational frocks, and even clothing for the young ones.
Pretty Percale wash dresses, in checks, paisleys or floral prints, were a bargain at $1.79. “Here are your house frocks — in popular coat or shirtwaist styles. Wear them mornings or for marketing. Wonderfully convenient with pockets.”
A bevy of bib or cover-all aprons were available for 79 cents — “for you or for gifts.”
For “something to sing about,” Olsen’s had slip-on sweaters for $2.88, all wool or wool blends. Pleated or gored skirts were $3.99 — wool, wool mixtures and gabardines.
For the young men, active youngsters’ overall were $1.59, and polo shirts just 88 cents. Boys’ sweaters were $2.79 in a “serviceable wool blend.”
And because Bradford’s winter is just around the corner, there were coats, coat sets and snow suit sets — wool and wool mixtures — ranging in price from $10.29 to $21.49.
Olsen’s was “The Store That Saves You Money.”