WINDER'S CORNER.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 586, 14 August 1909, Page 13

WINDER'S CORNER.

A "HUB" OF THE CITY,

■ Nineteen years ago, a, small ironmongery business was 1 set up at ;the corner 01 .Cuba and Manners Streets,: and run'by the usual "man and a boy/' The "man" was Mr. George Winder, who has since: earned for himself the, reputation of being one of the .Empire City's successful business men.; The growth of his business }ias synchronised with the expansion of the city, and now his well-known .''cornor/f consequent upon tlio trend of that expansion, marks ono of tho "hubs" of the ,oity> With tho exception of tho Brooklyn section, all the; city cars passthe imposing: five-story, .building which, recently completed, replaced tho familiar single story verandah store :Within .which the bfortunes.of the ironmongery, business were established upon their present 'Sound, footing.

' WINDER'S .CORNER IN THE EARLY DAYS. ' The-above'Pioturo oarnes a suggestion, of a past, era in the city's his- . to 17,' the era-of 'small beginningßjthe later, triumphs, of whioh are exemplified v in the imposing structure which has, within quite a .recont penod, replaced . ■ the humbler premises wherein .were-laid .the foundations- of. a prosperous : . ; business.

Tho new building is very, solidly constructed, as it had iiccd to bo, for fno floors, each carry,-, ing I .largo.. quantities • of heavy' goods, require soniothiggj yery'substantial :in , of,: sup-, port, Hence the-massive colnn>ns and . girders which/ are the. eleineniais 'Of ,tlie'interior.;; Tlie exterior is not without some pretehsions to *arohitebtursil'design,although;; thedominant, impression suggested is tkatef massive strength ana solid' construction,while .the • high-glazed < .verandah ■is =. illuminated; ; with, pictorial sentations lof the many departments .of the business.ln; !: tHe',basement v:nre, stocked . the .heaviest lihesr^coils 5 of \fencing-wire,, galvanised ironj casks; of nails,and, .heavy From the basementW electric.goods hoist runs right'to.the:top of the building. ' The, ground

floor is thd',ironmongery shop .proper,, theppe r I ploV floor; so'.to'.speti,-where-every conceivable , article of domestic convenience and oraftsmen s impedimenta,'.to say nothing of articles ae luxe —presentation plate and tno liker-aro displayed. ! to view.- -At the rear of this floor aie. Bitnated the offices. 'The'floor-above is given up to the display , of furniture and- carpets, and rugs,, tho bulk of which were supplied to approved designs selected by ■ Mrs.'' Winder. . On the second floor I ate the mantels vand /grates, of which, thero ■ is I a largo -andvvaned'-'assortment.. -.There, also, are I stacks-of .travelling trunks of every type, rOn the 'flopr above are stores in bulk of, household Eoods'. garden implements, .- tools,; etc. . 'l'ho top floor is reserved for letting purposes for clubs or. social gatherings.A .roof garden oh' the flat asbestos -top' is' one of ■ the I 'ideas■; for the futuro; 'Overshadowed by the central cor-, nor ' building, but i.doavonientlyadjacent,' are 'other-premises.: owned by; the .firm, wliiok. tno ramifications of; Mr. -.Winder's, -business-.aitend to branch houses in Lambton Quay Cuba Street, and a buildiijg in Victona Street, the whole - necessitating the 'employment, of a.staft. of GO to cope with the daily businoss of the firm.-'- '