Businesses

John Behan & Co., located at 65 Blackstone, was in business for over 40 years. This liquor store not only sold quality liquor at the lowest prices in Boston but offered its own brands such as; Behan Old ‘05 Kentucky Burbon, Behan Old ‘65 Kentucky Rye, and Behan Best Brand BBB. John Behan & Co. prided themselves on quality, claiming that they got their liquor straight from distilleries and that they ensured that their goods were pure. They also ensured free packaging so the liquor would always make it to the customer's home safely. Finally, John Behan & Co. was one of the first businesses to offer a price match guarantee and even stated in their ads that if they did not have a specific alcohol that someone was looking for, they would purchase it for their customers with a price match.

Waitt and Bond, located at 53 Blackstone, was the leading 10-cent Londres cigars seller in the world. They also held the largest lot of Havana tobacco in New England. Their signature cigars were all sold for 5 cents and handmade with a pure Havana filler wrapped in a Sumatra wrapper. These 5-cent Blackstone cigars were made richer than the 15-cent imported cigars, as they were handcrafted with pure ingredients. These cigars were not only of better quality and lower price than other brands, but outsold three other brands made in Boston. Waitt and Bond also utilized the current wartime atmosphere in their advertisements. As can be seen in the ad on the left, they consistently featured Uncle Sam in their imagery. They also claimed that the war did not disrupt their productivity or quality, stating that “Tobacco cannot be beaten at home or abroad for quality or flavor” under the image of Uncle Sam. 

The Batchelder and Snyder Company, located at 55-63 Blackstone St, was the largest meat-food distribution corporation in New England. The Batchelder and Snyder Company was also a major producer of various meat products, including sausage manufacturing, with plants all over Boston. They sold their products to over 5,000 customers along the Atlantic seaboard and throughout New York State and New England. Despite various setbacks, including a water tank explosion in 1909 that destroyed their inventory and disrupted their means of production and work staff, they continued to grow exponentially. They were in business for over 43 years until they merged with Arthur E. Dorr Company and William A. Doe Company, which were both prominent in food distribution, to grow the business even further. With this merger, Batchelder and Snyder Co. eventually moved to a seven-story location on Blackstone, North, and North Center Streets in 1913. This location consisted of smokehouses, freezer rooms, and large storage spaces that allowed for continued growth.