Ashland Memories: Battle of turn-of-the-century clothing stores on Main Street

In 1895, the men of Ashland had several options to purchase a suit of clothes, but none of them was a chain store. The clothiers at that time were the Freer Brothers, Jacob Cahn, and the New York Store.

The New York Store was at 33 W. Main St., the building that currently houses Masterminds. It was run by Samuel Miller, who had immigrated from Hungary as a teenager in 1881.

By 1895, he had been in Ashland for several years and built up a large, promising clothing business. In a special edition of the Ashland Gazette he was described as “a hustler.” The Gazette praised his business model, saying he was “constantly after the almighty dollar,” and his quality merchandise, low prices, and good service made him successful.

More: Ashland Memories: Once home to five drug stores, city had no shortage of options

Sam Miller married Nathan Strauss’s sister, Bettye. He continued in business at the same location until around 1919, selling men’s clothing, hats, boots, and shoes.

Shortly after the turn of the century, another clothing store opened under the direction of Jacob Roth. He faced a series of challenges, but with grit and determination he remained in business for nearly two decades.

Roth was only a few years older than Miller, and also born in Hungary. He came to the United States in 1888, and arrived in Ashland about 1905.

Strangers must get acquainted

In 1906, Roth and his brother opened a clothing store on Main Street, opposite the opera house. They invited Ashland residents to check out their wares, saying “we are strangers in your midst and must get acquainted.”

This location was 16 E. Main St., the building presently owned by the city, which recently underwent an exterior renovation.

The Roth Brothers store flourished for two years, and Jacob continued at the same location after his brother’s retirement. He modernized the store and added plate glass to the front in 1908.

In 1910, Jacob Roth married Sam Miller’s cousin, Ida Wrubel.

In 1911, Roth hit a roadblock and had to sell out his stock. His former storefront was remodeled and turned into an F.M. Kirby five-and-ten-cent store. A year later, the F.M. Kirby chain merged with its rival, F.W. Woolworth’s.

But don’t count Roth out just yet. Jacob Roth soon opened a new clothing store in the Potter block, on the south side of Main Street. This store was at 27 W. Main, which is now home to Studio Rise.

Early in 1914, Jacob Roth’s elderly father, Moritz, who still lived in Hungary, wrote a letter to his son. He described some of the dangers that loomed over Europe as war broke out. Luckily, Moritz was able to come to America with his daughter in 1915. He lived in Ashland briefly, before settling in the Hungarian Jewish community in Cleveland, where he died in 1918.

In 1917, Jacob Roth hit another bump in his business road. His inventory was damaged in a fire at the store, possibly started by a carelessly tossed cigar. Roth held a fire sale to dispose of damaged inventory, and then carried on for several more years.

In late 1922, Roth received an eviction notice when the building’s owner decided to lease it out to the J.C. Penney store. Roth fought for more time, even filing a petition with the court, but ultimately he had to be out early in 1923.

I haven’t found any evidence he reopened after that time, although he may have worked as a salesman in another clothing store before his death in 1948.

This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Ashland Memories: Clothing stores abound on Main Street in late 1800s