Howard W. Spurr & Co.
What was Howard W. Spurr & Co.
Howard W. Spurr owned and operated a retail boutique at 23-25 Commercial Street from around 1890 to 1922, according to Bromley Maps. The store, known as Howard W. Spurr & Co., offered a variety of goods to the surrounding community. The front of the store featured a coffee shop "where lady attendants, nationally attired, serve such delicacies" as imported eastern Asian teas from Japan and China, cocoa, coffee, and fruit syrups.
The store was decorated with mahogany and walnut columns "decorated with dainty mosaics," giving it a luxurious atmosphere. The specialty store had eight different sections, or departments, offering customers a wide range of goods including coffee, cigars, produce, fish, canned goods, fancy groceries, glassware, tobacco, and general groceries. It is likely that Howard W. Spurr & Co. was a highly successful retail boutique specializing in imported goods.
Advertising on foot
To attract customers in a busy hub like Quincy Market, Howard W. Spurr & Co. relied on its close proximity to the market and the resulting foot traffic. The business also placed advertisements in the Boston Globe to reach a wider audience. One such ad, from 1885, promotes "Spurr's Revere Coffee" as a cure for biliousness, or upset stomach, and offers a free sample to those who provide their name and preferred grocer. Another ad, from 1901, promotes imported Puerto Rican cigars and is mostly written in Spanish, perhaps to appeal to Latino customers or to create intrigue through the use of a foreign language.
The combination of these tactics helped Howard W. Spurr & Co. maintain a strong presence in the industry until its dissolution in 1901.
What happened to Howard w. spurr & co.
A notice in the Boston Globe dated December 11, 1900 announced the dissolution of Howard W. Spurr & Co. on January 1, 1901. The Pierce-Quimby Pure Food Company was set to succeed them at 19-21 Commercial Street, while Spurr & Co. moved away from the grocery business. However, the company continued to operate its coffee roasting and distribution business at 23-25 Commercial Street under the new name Howard W. Spurr Coffee Company. In addition to coffee, the new company continued to offer salt fish, cigars, and green fruit.
Based on the previously mentioned cigar and coffee advertisements, and their continued presence in the company's business model, it seems likely that these were the company's most popular and profitable products. However, according to maps, Howard W. Spurr gave up ownership of the property in 1928, and newspaper advertisements for the company cease at this time.
Legal troubles
In 1886, Howard W. Spurr & Co. was taken to court after certain samples of molasses were found to be adulterated with salt of tin. When consumed, salt of tin can cause injury or death, as shown in tests on animals. The motivation for adulterating molasses with salt of tin is its ability to lighten and thin the molasses. Despite the use of this potentially dangerous substance, the firm was found not guilty due to a lack of evidence that the molasses contained "injurious material."
Fraud on commercial
In 1894, Howard W. Spurr & Co. posted a notice in the newspaper warning consumers about fraudulent "Number 7" cigars being sold without the company's consent. The advertisement encouraged consumers to verify the authenticity of their cigars and stressed the importance of protecting themselves against fraud. Number 7 cigars were a specialty item of Howard W. Spurr & Co., and the company was concerned about the unauthorized sale of these cigars.
REferences:
Advertisements:
Howard W. Spurr & Co. “Biliousness Conquered.” The Boston Globe, July 19, 1885.
Howard W. Spurr & Co. “Fraud.” The Boston Daily Globe, February 14, 1894.
Howard W. Spurr & Co. “Porto Rican 5 Cigar.” The Boston Globe, March 8, 1901.
Howard W. Spurr & Co. “Quaker Cigars.” The Boston Globe, September 17, 1894.
Newspaper:
“Molasses and Tin. Howard W. Spurr & Co. in the Municipal Court.” The Boston Globe, July 28, 1886.
“Partnership Changes. Pierce-Quimby Pure Food Company Will Succeed Howard W. Spurr & Co.” The Boston Globe, December 11, 1900.
“Through A Temple. One Enjoys the Hospitality of Howard W. Spurr & Co.” The Boston Globe, October 6, 1891.
“The Verdict Not Guilty. Howard W. Spurr & Co. Released by Judge Forsaith.” The Boston Globe, July 30, 1886.