John Taylor, born of Scotch parents, came to Kansas City from new York in 1881, the year of the historic economic boom. He and George Sinclair of Columbus, O., opened a shallow 50-foot store, but within a year Sinclair sold his half to Taylor. The John Taylor Dry Goods company eventually occupied a 4-story brick building at the foot of Petticoat lane (Eleventh street) and Main street, with frontages of 100 feet on Main and 90 on Baltimore avenue. Horse-drawn delivery wagons lined up in a vacant lot just north of the store to make deliveries. After 1891 the firm operated on a strictly cash basis, a fact of which both customer and owner were equally proud. The store was noted for the high quality of its merchandise, and the phrase all wool and a yard wide was heard frequently at the yard goods counter. Most clothing was sewed at home or the dressmaker's, and the cold winters and less-than-perfect heating systems, made the wool piece goods counter at Taylor's a popular place. There was nothing shoddy sold there. The table linens and damask section on the second floor was another famous spot, in a day when hearty meals were served three times a day and usually on Irish linen and with linen napkins. John Taylor kept a buyer in Ireland and his linens were known throughout the Mid-West. The picture shows the Main street aisle lined with whirling stationary stools used by ladies having gloves fitted. The cosmetics and perfume counter is in the foreground. A glowing gas light is visible near the top of the photograph, slightly left of center. The customer's purchase and his payment were placed in a basket by the clerk, who with a jerk of a cord (right) carried the basket ceilingward, where it coasted on a wire to the cashier and wrapper. Change was made, the package wrapped and both were returned the way they came. John Taylor died November 30, 1919, and two sons, John Taylor, jr., and A. Allen Taylor, carried on. Eventually the owners yielded to pressure and became a charge it store. Macy's now occupies the old building, which was completely overhauled and enlarged after the purchase in 1947. Kansas City Times, February 15, 1969.
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