Freedlander's

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Freedlander's
Formerly called H. Harold Freedlander Company
Former type Private
Industry Retail (Department Store)
Fate Dissolved
Predecessor(s)
Founded Wooster, Ohio, United States (1884 (1884))
Defunct February 28, 2009 (2009-02-28)
Headquarters 125 W. Liberty St., Wooster, Ohio, USA
Number of locations 1
Area served
Key people
Owner(s) Wooster Growth Corporation
(Leased by L.H.B., Inc.:1989-2009)

Freedlander's Department Store has been a historical icon in downtown Wooster, OH since 1884. It was founded by David Freedlander, a Russian immigrant to Wooster. He borrowed enough money to start a store selling work clothes. The store was originally called The Buffalo One-Price Clothing Store and was located in Germania Hall on South Market St. David Freedlander died in 1898 and his son, Herman Freedlander took over. Herman was 17 at the time. Over time, the store evolved into a department store, expanding from 1,800 square feet to 41,000 square feet on four floors. People from all over came to Freedlanders for Dollar Days. In addition, Toyland was loved by children throughout the county.

Herman Freedlander passed away in 1974. Harold Freedlander, son of Herman Freedlander and grandson of the founder David Freedlander, continued operating the business until 1989. In 1983, it was reported to be one of the last one-family stores in the United States (The Daily Record April 28, 1983 p. 10). In February 2009, the business closed its doors for good. The building was razed eight months later.


Advertising Slogan

  • "Satisfaction since 1885", and are pleased that we can tell the world" Wooster has good Stores"
  • "Freedlander's; It Pays to Buy Quality"

Departments

Conference room

Credit Department

Credit terms

  • Credit terms were 1/2 percent interest; although well-known people were not charged the 1/2 percent. [1]
  • Credit card was design by Jerry Kountz, patterned after the Sears card [2]

Management

Personnel

  • 1943-1978 - Welden Lehman, head of credit department
  • 1978- Jerry Kountz, head of credit department

Pnemeutic tubes

Lamson maker
Coin carrier
  • No. 1 -
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  • No. 3 -
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  • No. 9 - traveled from Office to Layaway which was with the gift wrapping area
  • No. 10 -
  • No. 11 -
  • No. 12 -
  • No. 13 -
  • No. 14 -
  • No. 15 -
  • No. 16 -
  • No. 17 -
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  • No. 21 -
  • No. 22 -
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  • No. 24 -
  • No. 25 -
  • No. 26 -
  • No. 27 -
  • No. 28 -

Gift Wrap

Home Furnishings

Layaway

Third Floor

Dollar Day Tags

  • L = Ladies' Ready-to-Wear [3]
  • S = Ladies' Sportswear
  • K = Lingerie
  • F = Children's

Toyland

Dollar Days

Historical documents

  • [6]
  • Herman Freedlander [photography]
  • Note 2 - Other Agreements and Significant Events - [7]

Freedlander Property In 1989, the H. Freedlander Company, donated its downtown Wooster retail department store building to the City of Wooster. Shortly thereafter, the City passed Ordinance No. 1989-43 granting title of the property to Wooster Growth Corporation. The property’s fair market value at the date of gift was approximated at $ 1,251,450 based upon valuations provided by the Wayne County Auditor’s Office. On September 7, 1989, Wooster Growth Corporation entered into a lease agreement with L.H.B., Inc. by which L.H.B., Inc. pays a nominal annual rental for use of the property (L.H.B., Inc. operates the Freedlander’s Department Store). The intent of the nominal rental is to insure the continuance of the retail establishment’s contribution to the vitality of downtown Wooster. Based on historical performance, it is unlikely that the Freedlander property will produce material cash inflows for the Wooster Growth Corporation. Accordingly, the property is considered impaired and an allowance equal to the market value at date of gift has been recorded. The agreement extends for five years with the options to renew by L.H.B., Inc. for up to six, five-year lease periods. The first five-year renewal was entered into September, 1994. L.H.B. continues to occupy the premises as of December 31, 2000. However, a second five-year renewal contract, due to be executed during September 1999, remains un-signed and is under negotiation. Renewals are subject to change regarding the calculation base for annual rentals, which have historically been based on the federal taxable income of L.H.B., Inc. Taxes, insurance, maintenance and repairs, and utilities are the responsibility of L.H.B., Inc. Costs associated with major structural alterations or improvements to the property will by born by L.H.B., Inc., and only undertaken after obtaining the consent of Wooster Growth Corporation

Newspaper articles

  • 11 Feb 1903 - "Herman Freedlander, Men's and Boys Clothing and Furnishings" Wayne County Democrat
  • 6 Jul 1940 - "This Front to be Remodeled" The Daily Record
  • 26 Jul 1949 - "Freedland Story, Result of Years of Effort and Planning by Many Faithful - People"
  • 26 May 1950 - "Air Conditioning Greets Customers" The Daily Record
  • 28 Oct 1953 - "Freedlanders In Renovated: Exanded Store for Their Anniversary Event" The Daily Record
  • 14 Dec 1954 - " Herman Freedlander is Honored by Townsmen: Given Surprise Party by His Fellow Citizens for Birthday" The Daily Record
  • 26 Jul 1959 - "Wooster Gains Publicity on Wide Scale as Freedlanders is Lauded Through Magazine" The Daily Record, p. 1.
  • 6 Oct 1959 - "H. Freedlander co. Marks 75th Birthday" The Daily Record, p. 7.
  • 14 Mar 1960 - "Freedlander Expanding Westward" The Daily Record
  • 18 Feb 1961 - "Expanded Freedlander Store will be Largest of Type in Wooster-Size Area" The Daily Record, p. 1, 3.
  • 10 May 1961 - "Remember What fun Store-Running Was? / by Elinor Taylor The Daily Record, p. 30.
  • 10 May 1961 - "The Store Friendliness Built Keeps on Growing" The Daily Record.
  • 12 May 1961 - "Store Had Open House in Wooster" The Daily Record
  • 31 Dec 1966 - Freedlander store [several photographs, 1898 and 1966]
  • 31 Oct 1967 - "Freedlanders Is Example of Great Stores Here" The Daily Record
  • 1976 - Bicentennial Profiles: Freedlander's Returns Respect of Customers
  • 13 Feb 1984 - "Wooster Landmark Celebrates 100th Year" The Daily Record
  • 15 Oct 1984 - "Freedlander Family Hosts 300 for 100th Anniversary Party" The Daily Record.
  • - "It Was an Evening Reminisce" The Daily Record
  • 26 Jul 1989 - "'Nothing Is Tied Down' on Freedlander's" The Daily Record, p. A1-2.
  • 26 Jul 1989 - "Store is Vital to Wooster" The Daily Record, p. A4.
  • 29 Jul 1989 - Letter to Mr. Harold Freedlander The Daily Record / by Paul Locher
  • 1 Aug 1989 - "Wooster City Council to Consider Gift of Freedlander Property" The Daily Record, p. A1.
  • 2 Aug 1989 - "Letters: Paul Locher Spoke for Many" The Daily Record
  • 18 Aug 1989 - Growth Corp. Enters Freedlander Picture The Daily Record
  • 22 Aug 1989 - "Growth Corp. Is Best Landlord" The Daily Record, p. A4.
  • Sep 1989 - "Freedlander's Deal Finalized" The Daily Record
  • 6 Sep 1989 - "Growth Corp. OKs Freedlander's Lease" The Daily Record
  • 8 Sep 1989 - "Opinion: New Lease on Life" The Daily Record
  • 19 Oct 1989 - "Opinion: The Tradition Continues" The Daily Record
  • 11 Jan 1990 - "A Tradition Goes Down the Tubes - Freedlander's Dismantling Pneumatic Tube System" The Daily Record, p. A1.
  • 15 Oct 1997 - "Freedlanders Noted for Their Achievements" The Daily Record
  • 4 Dec 2000 - "Freedlander's Sold: Gault Plans to Showcase Offerings of Landmark Downtown Department Store" The Daily Record
  • - "Wooster Shopowners Get Blunt Earful From Retail Specialist" The Daily Record
  • - "Wooster Recreation Dept. Gifts Finish Chalet, Add Park land" The Daily Record
  • - "Freedlander's, City's Development Closely Linked" The Daily Record
  • - "H. Freedlander Co. Marks 75th Birthday" The Daily Record
  • - "Freedlanders Store Celebrates its 95th Anniversary at Dinner" The Daily Record
  • - "Freedlanders Observe 69th Birthday in Expanded Store" The Daily Record
  • - "Story of Freedlander Store Told in Trade Publication", p. 4.
  • Freedlander's victorian storefront, shown here in 1939, gave way to remodeling in the mid-1960s [photograph]
  • During Freedlander's 100th anniverdaru celebration [photograph] multiple photographs

Timeline

  • 1917 - First Dollar Day Sale [8]
  • 1959 - 75th Anniversary, dinner party at Smithville Inn
  • 1989 - July 28, A three-sentence "Notice To All Employees" was distributed to the staff at Freedlander's. The notice read: "Substantial progress has been made toward a sale of the store. The proposed purchasers consists of a group of investors from the Wooster Community who are interested in maintaining the store operation. Development swill be occurring over the nest few weeks and we will keep you apprised of all these developments. Your cooperation in this process has been greatly appreciated."
  • 1989 - H. Freedlander Company donated the building to the city of Wooster, Ordinance No. 1989-43 granted title of property to the Wooster Growth Group. Property value at the date of gift was $1,251,450.00 by the City of Wooster Auditor's Office.
  • 1989 - September, Ownership transferred to Wooster Growth Group
  • 1989 - September 7, Wooster Growth Group leased L.H.B. Inc. to manage the store and they pay anominal rental and agree to operate as Freedlander's Department Store
  • 2000 - December 4, Stanley Gault purchased Freedlander's

Further reading

  • Gone But Not Forgotten: a Freedlander Legacy by Ann Freedlander Hunt. Minneaspolis, MN: Two Harbors Press, 2010. LOCAL AUTHOR B HUNT, ANN FREEDLANDER

Video

References

  1. ↑ Harry McClarran letter to City of Wooster, Ohio, dated Marcy 28, 2009
  2. ↑ Harry McClarran letter to City of Wooster, Ohio, dated Marcy 28, 2009
  3. ↑ Gone but not forgotten by Ann Freedlander Hunt
  4. ↑ Harry McClarran letter to City of Wooster, Ohio, dated Marcy 28, 2009
  5. ↑ Harry McClarran letter to City of Wooster, Ohio, dated Marcy 28, 2009
  6. ↑ Wooster, Ohio Sesquicentennial Celebration, June 14-21, 1958, p. 6
  7. ↑ [https://ohioauditor.gov/auditsearch/Reports/2001/wooster_growth_corporation_00-wayne.pdf Wooster Growth Corporation Financial Statement to the State of Ohio Office of Auditor
  8. ↑ Gone but not forgotten by Ann Freedlander Hunt
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