From The Indianapolis Sun, Sunday, March 1, 1914: The Union Co-operative Department Store Co, 342-58 Massachusetts Av, threw open its doors yesterday morning following a long campaign to get the project started. A representative of the Woman’s Label League made the first purchase. Ernest S. Phillips, store manager, estimated nearly 10,000 persons visited the store, including 5,020 working men and women, who were addressed at an evening meeting in the store’s assembly hall by leaders of the Co-operative Store Movement. Attorney Milton L. Clawson called those assembled, “Fellow workers in the real chamber of commerce,” and added, “If we fail, we fail; if we succeed we will have reduced the high cost of living and have increased the welfare of the working man.” The store offers dry goods, women’s and men’s wearing apparel, and groceries.
If you would like a collection of these “100 Years Ago this Week” the Bona Thompson Memorial Center, 5350 E. University (Irvington) has the last 3 years in 3 booklets – $10 per set. They are open Wed. 1-3pm, Sat. & Sun.1-4pm. All proceeds benefit the Irvington Historical Society.