Mr. Charles Faulkner

Little could be found about the personal life of Mr. Charles Faulkner, owner of the large dry goods building at 491-511 Atlantic. 

-Note: In United States retailing, dry goods are products such as textiles, ready-to-wear clothing, grocery items that do not contain liquid (tobacco, sugar, flour, coffee, etc) that are distinct from those carried by hardware and grocery stores. 

The development of the Dry Goods firm of which he was partial owner has, however, been well-documented through sources such as the Historical Boston Globe Newspaper and the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History

Prior to becoming Faulkner, Kimball and Co., and later Faulkner, Paige & Co., the dry goods company was called the Thomas Tarbell Co. Upon Tarbell's retirement, Faulkner was added as a partner. 

The company followed other large dry goods houses as they moved from liberty square to milk street. “The opening of Pearl and Federal Streets about 1845 soon took trade from Milk Street, as well as Water and Kilby Street.” This is likely when Faulkner, a senior partner in the firm, purchased the plot at the corner of 156-160 Pearl and 491-511 Atlantic. 

In 1906, the Faulkner, Paige & Co. Dry Goods Company was housed within the Bedford Building at 91 Bedford Street.