McSweeney Company Heritage Building

Excerpts of the article titled The Jubilee of Moncton's Biggest Store published in THE BUSY EAST OF CANADA, June 1918 - (Volume 8, Number 7)

STORES have personality the same as individuals. Every store has its own atmosphere, its own peculiar features, its own characteristics, its own strength and weakness. In one store chaos reigns. All sorts and kinds of goods are strewed indiscriminately about as though hurriedly deposited on moving day. Dust covers all; failure seems written everywhere. In another store there is abundant evidence of order and system. Everything is neat and clean everything bears the stamp of thought, wedded to fact, of carefully planned action, of energy plus knowledge, of business ability added to industry and executive power. The first store is an object lesson of what a mercantile establishment should not be; the second is the embodiment of what a store ought to be, a place which it is a pleasure to visit, a commercial enterprise of outstanding importance. Between these two extremes there are many types, each varying from the others by characteristics, good and bad. Instinctively as one enters a store one gets its atmosphere, one draws his own conclusions in regard to the man in control. In some stores one instantly feels at home in others one immediately becomes depressed and uncomfortable and one breathes a sigh of relief when the door closes and the open air is reached once more. You have undoubtedly had these experiences and have perhaps wondered why you liked to trade in one store and hated to go near another; how one store gave you the blues, while another gave you a buoyant feeling that added a new joy to life. There is something indescribable about it all, but the facts are within the experience of everyone of us. A department store, which is much larger, more pretentious and imposing than one might expect to find in the city the size of Moncton, is that of Peter McSweeney Company, Limited, whose commercial home is on Main Street, right in the business heart of the hustling metropolis. More than half a century ago the foundation of the McSweeney enterprise was well and truly laid by the late Edward and Thomas McSweeney, in l866, under the firm name of McSweeney Bros., the present Senator Peter McSweeney joining his brothers in l868, whose store, a wooden structure, 40 x 75 feet, was located two blocks distant from the site of the present McSweeney building. At first dry goods exclusively were handled but many lines have since been added. In l877 Mr. Peter McSweeney withdrew from the firm of McSweeney Bros., and went into mercantile life an his own account under the firm name of Peter McSweeney, just fifty feet east of the present new premises. In 1899 the business was incorporated as the Peter McSweeney Company, Limited. In 1901 the present block, built of stone and brick, 65 by 125 feet, three stories high, was erected, and the enterprise began to assume its present extensive proportions. From the original one storey wooden building in which McSweeney Bros. began their career to the splendid structure which now constitutes the spacious home of the McSweeney Company, is indeed a far cry and indicates very clearly what unusual business ability, backed by well directed energy and skill can accomplish.

Peter McSweeney co., Ltd. 1918 Ladies Ready to Wear Section Dress Goods and Silk Section One third of the Furniture Department Rug and Wallpaper Sections

A visit to the McSweeney department store is indeed worth while for truly it is a commercial establishment which is different from its contemporaries: a place of business, which is up-to-date, representative, distinctive. There are ten departments, each a fine store in itself. Department A is devoted to dress goods and silks; department B to linens and wash goods; department C to small wares, corsets and gloves; department D to men's and boys' clothing and furnishings; department F to house furnishings; department G to ladies', misses' and children's ready-to-wear clothing; department H to furs; department I to millinery: department K to wall paper and room moulding; department L to furniture. An electric passenger elevator connects the various floors and proves a great convenience to the patrons of the store. The ten departments occupy, the first, second and third floors while in the basement are stored great quantities of reserve stocks. Everywhere one gets the impression of a big store, completely filled with beautiful goods in almost endless variety. Everywhere there is evidence of careful arrangement, attractive display, unusual executive ability. Everything is scrupulously clean, free from dust, neat and artistic, pleasing to the eye and calling forth the warmest admiration and praise from those who are best able to appreciate what a first class department store ought to be.

On March 15th, l899, Mr. McSweeney, the head of the company, was called to the Canadian Senate, and since that time the duties of manager have devolved upon his son. Mr. A. E. McSweeney, who is secretary-treasurer of the organization. Having been so well started and so successfully developed this store was in a most healthy condition when it came under the supervision of its present manager, but it is pleasing to say that there was no break in the record, which has shown a growth and expansion, which is exceedingly gratifying, not only to the heads of the company but to every employee, for it is worthy of note that a very strong feature of the McSweeney store is the loyalty and co-operation of its employees, who number upwards of fifty. A business can reach the highest standard of efficiency only when its employees are thoroughly loyal and dependable. Much of the success which Moncton's largest department store, has attained and is attaining, is due in large measure to the fact that the employees take as deep an interest in the enterprise as do the principals themselves.

Another thing which has contributed to the great success of the business is its progressive advertising policy. Without a doubt this store is the best advertised commercial establishment in the Maritime Provinces with the possible exception of one or two in St. John and Halifax. Snappy advertisements, well illustrated with up-to-date cuts, make the McSweeney announcements readable and interesting. Their ads tell a pleasing story, especially in these days of rising prices. More and more people are being attracted to the big store, which is thoroughly up-to-date, aiming to cater to an ever increasing list of patrons. Mr. A. E. McSweeney frequently visits New York and other big centres, thus getting in touch with the latest mercantile ideas. The company was the first in the Maritime Provinces to inaugurate a fashion parade, while window displays of unusual taste and attractiveness, are worthy of special mention.

The future of the McSweeney establishment looks exceedingly bright. With the assured growth of Moncton the big department store will undoubtedly expand and develop. In fact, judging from the history of the past we would expect this store to be always a lap ahead of the city, leading the way to bigger and yet bigger things. A department store of distinction, of bigness, of exceptional importance - that's McSweeney's; see it for yourselves.

It is gratifying to the 'Busy East' to be able to publish herewith by way of illustration a number of cuts, which give glimpses of the exterior and interior of the McSweeney building. In order to fully appreciate Moncton's largest department store, however, it is necessary to make a personal visit which will no doubt prove a big pleasurable surprise and revelation to those who rejoice at undoubted evidences of mercantile progress and prosperity in the Provinces by the Sea.

We take our hats off to the McSweeney store, one of the store up-to-date and well organised to be found in the Maritime Provinces.

And so do we!