Paragould Up To Date 1918 - Greene County, Arkansas

Of the many splendid establishments that are contributing their full share toward the development of Paragould none are doing more than the Puryear-Meyer Grocer Company.

Founded June 11, 1917 this enterprise is counted among the largest, most flourishing and successful concerns of its type in this section. The business is housed in a modern brick building at the at the foot of South Pruet Street, which is finely adapted to their needs and contains floor dimensions of 70 times 120 feet. Wholesale dealers in both fancy and domestic groceries, dried fruits, coffees, teas, spices, hay, grain, feed, etc., it enjoys a patronage that is not excelled by any other concern of a similar nature in Northeast Arkansas. The territory of the firm extends throughout a radius of approximately 50 miles and they employ four efficient traveling salesman who never lose an opportunity to advance the best interest of the firm. This company of exclusive local distributor of "Sunshine" specialties. The warehouse of the the concern is situated on a private track of the Cotton Belt RY., and they have the best of facilities in all departments, enabling them to handle a large volume of business with a minimum rate of expense.

The gentlemen at the head of this well known and successful enterprise are, N. C. Puryear, president and C. E. Joyce, Secretary and Treasurer, both of whom are men of marked business ability, integrity and progressiveness, and never fail to do their full share toward the material advancement of the community that constitutes their sphere of operations.

BEN H. CROWLEY

Real estate men are usually broad-minded and progressive and take an interest and pride in the development and material advancement of the community in which they are operating, and of no real estate man here can this more truly be said than of Ben H. Crowley, whose office is situated on West Emerson Street.

Mr. Crowley has been engaged in the real estate business here since 1907. He is one of the best posted, most capable and most reliable land man in this section of the country and during his business career in Paragould he has propably done as much toward the upbuilding of this city and section as any other one man that could be mentioned in these columns. He deals in all kinds of real estate and makes a specialty of improved and unimproved farm lands in Greene and adjoining counties.

Ben H. Crowley was born in Greene County Arkansas, January 19, 1880. He is the youngest son of General Ben H. Crowley, a prominent lawyer, planter and a distinguished soldier in the Confederate Army. He is the great-grandson of Benjamin Crowley, who left the blue grass regions of Kentucky more than a century ago and settled the picturesque plateau that bears his name.

Ben H. Crowley, like his father and grandfather, was raised in the same county in which he was born. He was attending school at the principle institution of learning in Paragould at the time of the disastrous catastrophe to the Battleship Maine in Havana Harbor, February 15, 1898, which lead to the war with Spain. And at President McKinley's first call for volunteer troops, young Crowley enlisted as a private in Cop. D. second Ark. vol. Inf. at the age of eighteen. As the services of the Arkansas troops were not needed they served less than a year at different mobilizing points in the United States and were order mustered out by the Secretary of War. Receiving his discharge he returned to Paragould and resumed his studies. Leaving school he served in many capacities until 1907, when he entered the real estate business, and established an office in the county where his people have played an active part for four generations.

J. W. COLE

The gentleman whose name appears at the head of this article is a manufacturer of all kinds of lumber and dimensions stock, also hickory, white ash and white oak handles and red oak and hickory spokes. This plant is situated in the southern part of the city, at the corner of Pekin and Park Streets. The business was established in September, 1916, and from the start meet with encouragement and support and is today numbered among the growing and successful industries of the community. The business was begun in a small way, but has since been enlarged, new boilers installed and the plant practically rebuilt throughout. Mr. Cole recently installed additional machinery for the production of spokes and handles and is at the present time producing these products in the rough, although contemplates adding finishing machinery at no distant date. In the sale of lumber and dimen-stock, he does both local and shipping business while the handles and spokes are shipped to the large market centers in car-lots exclusively.

Prior to locating in Paragould Mr. Cole was engaged in the tie and lumber business at Rector and has been associated with similar lines for a number of years. He is well posted and all that pertians to the business and is a man of fine qualifications, having been connected with some of the largest companies of this natures in the country before establishing business for himself. He is a wide-awake citizen and a firm believer in the future Paragould and Greene County.

BROADWAY CONFECTIONARY

This business is situated at 109 W. Court Street. A complete stock of everything in the confectionary line is carried, also temperance beverages, ice cream, cigars, tobacco, etc. Fruits of every description are handled and firm also sells soft drinks, ice cream, popcorn and peanuts at the shows. Having two late improved "Butter-Kist" popcorn and peanut machines.

This business is owned by Ewell Langdon, a young man who is well and favorably known to the local public and has many friends in all walks of life. He has been connected with this line in Paragould since September, 1917, and has been established at his present location since about March 1, 1918.

RELIABLE 5, 10, AND 25 cents STORE

One of the marvels of modern merchandising has been the success attained by stores devoted to the sale of 5, 10, and 25 cents goods and a concrete example of this is found in the Reliable Store, located on South Pruet Street. This store is equipped with fixtures of a modern type and the large stock carried comprises about every thing in the line of variety goods ranging in prices of 5 cents to $1, and over, although a specialty is made of articles selling for less than $1. They have on exhibit one of the finest lines of variety goods, household necessities and novelties to be found in this section, including goods that are both useful and ornamental. A large per cent of the articles sold for ten cents, when purchased from the average store, would cost as much as 25 cents. It is owing to the large volume of business handled and the large quantities of good purchased from manufacturers, taking advantage of discounts, etc., which places the firm in position to quote these prices and still make a small profit on each article. This business was established a number of years ago. Jacob Glasscock, the present owner, succeeded G. B. Hamilton on January 17, 1917. Mr. Glasscock is one of the most enterprising business men that the town has ever had and is meeting with success by deserving it.

D. L. ANDREWS

The grocery is the housekeeper's first thought in the morning and her distress all day if the groceries are delivered to late for dinner. D. L. Andrews has been engaged in the grocery businesses in Paragould since January 1917, keeps on hand the best pure food groceries, table delicacies and provisions that money and experience can command, is a leader in high quality and moderate prices, delivers all orders promptly and has a premium trade among the best families in the community.

The fixtures in use are modern and large grocer's refrigerator is installed for the handling of perishable goods. This business is located at 205. S. Pruet Street. It is one of the most sanitary and most neatly arranged establishments of it's kind in the city and has enjoyed a substantial and gratifying patronage from the very beginning. Goods are delivered to any part of the city, an auto truck being used for this purpose. Personally Mr. Andrews is too well and favorably known here to require extended mention at our hands; suffice to say, however, he is a man of upright business principles and stands high in the estimation of his fellowmen.