be loaded and unloaded to and from the cars at the very doors. This room is piled high with barrels of flour and heavy groceries. The second floor, in which is the office, is filled with lighter groceries, and is on a level with Bridge Street. The two upper floors are used for storage. Connected with the building is a grist-mill,—the only one within a radius of half a dozen miles,—which the firm run to accommodate their customers.
This has proved to be of great benefit and convenience to the farmers and their other customers in the immediate vicinity. The firm does a large business, which is steadily increasing, and already extends beyond the borders of the State. The future prosperity of this enterprising firm is already well assured. The success which they have already achieved, and that which is in store for them, have been fairly and richly earned.
Mr. Dow has done very much to improve the business facilities of the city. The Woodworth brothers are comparatively young men, thoroughly indentified with the growth and prosperity of Concord; and all of them are highly respected in the community.
In looking over the handsome drugstore of A. Perley Fitch, the casual observer does not realize the extent and importance of his business. We were lately surprised, in going over the premises, at their magnitude. In the rear of the store is the private office of the proprietor, to which only the privileged few are admitted; the convenient desk presided over by the prescription clerk; a large room devoted to drugs, chemicals, and medicines; and a smaller room, where are stored choice drugs and compounds, like opium and quinine. Beneath the whole store is a lofty basement, where is a great stock of paints, oils, and varnishes for the nicest carriage-work, or the coarsest for houses, barns, and fences. Here are stored the heavy chemicals, and great quantities of the goods of E. R. Squibbs, Parke, Davis, & Co., and the fine oils imported by Dodge & Olcott. The front of the basement is partitioned off for a wine-cellar, and the choicest of brands are here kept for medicinal purposes. The adjoining basement, under the banking establishment of E. H. Rollins & Sons, is the laboratory of the establishment, presided over by a skilful chemist, George A. Berry, a pupil of Professor George A. Gay. Here are produced the fluid extracts, tinctures, wines, elixirs, liquors, ointments, and druggists' sundries, for which the establishment of Mr. Fitch has been long celebrated, not only with the retail, but with the wholesale trade. Under Norman G. Carr's jewelry-store is another basement reserved for the storage of Mr. Fitch's goods, all opening onto a rear carriage-way; but still further store-room is required, and found in a store-house on Green Street.
The store is very centrally located, on the corner of Main and Depot Streets. In the front store is a handsome display of toilet articles and sundries, and an immense stock of choice cigars.
Mr. Fitch has the reputation of compounding physicians' prescriptions in the most careful and reliable manner.
In 1859 Mr. Fitch entered the employment of the old firm of Allison & Eastman, with whom he remained one year. One year he was in Lebanon. For over three years he was one of the firm of Fitch & Underhill. In 1874 he was one of the firm of Eastman & Fitch. He has been the sole proprietor since May, 1882.
