The oldest continuous business to Delta’s Main Street is the Davis Clothing Company. John Davis and associates purchased the business from the Roy L. Emry Mercantile Company July 24, 1912.
Originally known as the Park-Davis Clothing Company, the name was changed to the Davis Clothing in 1921.
The building that houses the establishment was originally a livery barn owned by Frank Shield. Sometime around 1905 the structure was converted into a store when N. J. Bradley shipped dry goods here from Rico, Colorado.
Tom Gale had one side of the store set up for a grocery business and Bradley sold dry goods on the other side.
The men sold out to N. E. Clack and the next buyer was Roy L. Emry who operated under the name Emry Mercantile Company. His is the business that Davis and his associates purchased.
A long-time county resident, Davis arrived at Paonia with his parents in 1893. At that time a dirt road ran from Delta to the North Fork Valley and there were probably half-a-dozen houses in the town of Paonia.
Davis has been in the clothing business since 1907 when he was employed by the Emry Shoe and Clothing Company at Paonia. The establishment was the only store there that sold clothing exclusively.
Men’s fashions have undergone quite a few changes since Davis was first connected with the business. At that time the men wore high shoes. Peg top trousers were worn about two-and-a-half inches above the tops of the shoes. The bottoms of trouser legs measured 14 to 14 1/2 inches in circumference and it was necessary for the men to remove their shoes before putting on or taking off their trousers.
Coats were styled with very broad shoulder dip fronts and tight-fitting waistlines.
In the early days of the Davis Clothing Company an incident occurred that gained quite a bit of notoriety from the business. Shorty Gibson on horseback rode up to the small double doors at the front of the store and called to Davis— “How about riding in a doing business?”
“Sure!” Davis replied.
So Shorty rode in and looked over the wares and departed amidst gales of laughter.
Davis is the son of Wilson L. and Mary (Florence) Davis, and he has three children: Mrs. Amy Kilmer, John W. Jr., and Melbert C. Davis. His wife is the former Excie Cady.
Delta County Independent
May 1958
Linda
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Tags: Anniversary of Delta County 1883-1958—Davis Clothing Company, cars, clothing, style, transportation, travel, vacation
