Portage County Historical Society
THE C. O. D. STORE
The business developments of Stevens Point have witnessed no greater business triumph than will be found in this store. The business was established by Philip Rothman, now deceased, leaving the entire business to his sons. There is not a firm any where that caters to a better class of trade, whose business administration is cleaner cut, whose treatment of patrons is fairer, or whose standing in the trade is better. They carry the largest stock and occupy the largest store building in the city. Their stock consists of dry goods, clothing, hats, caps, carpets, ladies’ cloaks and jackets, shoes, etc. It is a model store in every respect, and the two sons are model young men; they are prominent in the social life of the city and are numbered among the most useful and worthy citizens.
COMMERCIAL HOUSE, JUNCTION CITY
When the train is nearing Junction City, and we hear the sharp, shrill cry of the brakeman announce the name of this railroad station, it does not mean very much except to the hungry traveler who is waiting and watching for an opportunity to secure a square meal. This is strictly a junction point and is filled with hospitality and great content. The city itself relies for its attraction on the two lines of railroad and its hotel. It can show little of commercial interest. The city is quiet with a feeling of perpetual afternoon. There is a suppressed hum in the air which seems to be a sound made by silence. It is quite a point for fishermen to gather, and if the sportsman is willing to invade the thick tangled forest and endure the hardship imposed by a contact with nature in her uncivilized garb, he will find no better sport than in the vicinity of this little hamlet.
The Commercial has been known to the traveling public for many years. F. E. Culver took charge of this hotel about two years ago, since which time it has been greatly improved, and the service brought up to a standard that meets the requirement of the traveling public. The dining room is large and well lighted. The hotel has twenty guest rooms, and the service will compare favorably with hotels and railroad eating stations in any part of the country. Mr. Culver is an agreeable and accommodating proprietor, and is ever and always ready to make his guests feel entirely at home. He is the right man in the right place.
COYE FURNITURE CO., STEVENS POINT
Promoted by the citizens of the town as a means of employment for the excess labor, the Coye Furniture Company has grown, since its inception in 1899, to be a factor in the furniture manufacturing world, and has been the means of extensively advertising Stevens Point from one end of the country to the other.
Under the able management of W. H. Coye, whose name the Company bears, the concern rapidly forged to the front, the demand for its output being such that extensive additions became necessary after a year or two of operation. Within the last year an Automatic Sprinkler System, giving absolute fire protection, and a vacuum system of heating, have been installed, together with a new series of dry kilns increasing the lumber drying capacity 50 per cent, so that they now have a most modern plant, equipped with up-to-date machinery; occupying a floor space of about 90,000 feet employing almost continuously 175 men, and, consuming about four million feet of lumber per year.
A medium grade of bed room furniture in all the popular woods and finishes, is manufactured, and the output is in great demand in every portion of the country, large shipments being also made to Mexico.
The Company is officered and directed by some of the city’s most progressive business men, D. E. Frost being its President; F. A. Southwick, Vice President; W. S. Young, Secretary, and W. H. Coye, Treasurer and General Manager. To Mr. Coye, as manager, belongs the greatest credit for the advancement the concern has made, the entire management and operating of the plant having been directly in his hands since the beginning of the erection of the buildings. Mr. Coye has the reputation of being one of the best furniture men in the country and this is borne out by the condition of the Company which bears his name.
The outlook for the future of this Company is very bright and Stevens Point may well he proud of its furniture manufacturing concern.
