Shopping at the Hub in 1910, Phoenix, Arizona
It's 1910, and I could use some new clothes. I'm all grown-up now, well into my twenties, and some nice clothes could probably help me find a better job, and a girlfriend. Let's face it, I'm a mess. Let's take a look in the paper.
There's a place called "the Hub" on Washington Street. Let's see, the address is 18-20 W. Washington so it must be a pretty big place. 18 W. Washington is west of Central and on the north side of the street. But before we go, I think I'll read this ad more carefully. I don't have much money, but I want to look sharp, and have good quality clothes.
OK, let's see... the ad says that it's poor policy to shop around buying clothes unless you're a first-class judge of values. Well, I haven't a clue, so that sounds like me. I see that their slogan is "good clothes and no other kind" - not very catchy, but I understand it.
What I don't understand is why that baseball player is wearing a suit? I wonder if that's what the baseball players back east are wearing? And apparently the strike zone is different. Anyway, the guy in the drawing looks like me, so I should probably get a suit like that, and a hat like that, too.
Wow! I can't believe that the newspaper was allowed to use the word "swell"! I guess it's not as bad a word as it used to be. I remember my mom washing my mouth out with soap when I used it when I was a kid! Times change!
It looks like I can get worsteds, mohairs, tweeds and cassimers in light tones: half-lined with alpaca or silk. I have no idea what any of that means, but it looks like there's a very handsome line of them at $19.75. I'll break open my piggy bank and go shopping!
Thank you for going to the Hub with me!
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The Hub in 1903 (on the left). You're looking east on Washington towards Central, Phoenix, Arizona. |
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