The beginning phase of a yet-to-be-titled project documenting the history of the R. A. McWhirr Company, Fall River’s iconic department store, is currently underway and is beginning to show promise. The intent – to develop an exhibition and a companion volume.
Founded in 1877 on South Main Street, the city’s best-loved department store – Fall River’s answer to Selfridges – operated for decades from the Mills Building on South Main Street; it closed in 1975, leaving a legacy of happy memories for generations of shoppers. If you are a Fall Riverite of a certain age, you know what I am talking about.
First order of business: to interview descendants of the key partners in the store, and individuals associated with its management. The strategy? It makes sense to start at the top.
I am pleased to be working on this project with two FRHS members, Betty Prescott, and Suzie Mills Shaw – both are descendants of Asa Adam Mills (1864-1941) who served as president and treasurer of the company, hence the “Mills Building.” They have a vested interest.
The FRHS houses a large collection of artifacts pertaining to the store, as well as a plethora of photographic material – remarkable interior images – documenting decades of retail history and ensuring a profusely illustrated end result.
This photograph, taken by an unidentified photographer in the very early twentieth century depicts the candy department; it is inscribed on the reverse: “Candy – Early 1900, Kitty Logan, Buyer.” Katherine A. “Kitty” Logan (1884-1957) was employed at McWhirr’s from 1899 until the time of her marriage to Gilbert Patrick Cuttle in 1906; she is likely the woman at the right.
This image will be used to document the early years of the store’s history.
Great stuff!
