Chain: Pearl’s Department Stores, Inc.
Date Opened: September 1, 1939 (twelfth store in chain)
Date Closed: Probably early 1944
Street Address(es) when open (Building name/block) [Current Address]: Main Street (Ryder Block), later renamed Crossman block, then later (1949), block purchased by Towne.
Former Store(s) in Location(s): unknown
Later Store(s) in Location(s): Bailey’s Department Store
Do buildings still exist?: Building burned down in 1981, new structure built in its place
Owners, Managers, Employees:
- Ralph Pearlman, first manager (from Malone store) 1939 – circa 1943- left to do defense work
- Arthur Mott, the second manager, drafted 1943
- Phillip Guernier, helped temporarily at opening
- Mrs. Maurice Gates – 1941
Subsequent Owners if sold: Closed
Articles, Pictures, Ads:
Pearl’s Waterbury – Grand Opening Sale ad (The Waterbury Record Aug 31 1939 p3)
Pearl’s Waterbury – Store Opening (The Waterbury Record Sep 07 1939 p1)
Pearl’s Waterbury – ad (The Waterbury Record Nov 30 1939 p8)
Pearl’s Waterbury – Christmas article (The Waterbury Record Dec 19 1940 p5)
Pearl’s Waterbury – heated apartment (The Waterbury Record Feb 20 1941 p8)
Pearl’s Waterbury – ad (The Waterbury Record Apr 03 1941 p6)
Pearl’s Waterbury – heated apartment (The Waterbury Record May 29 1941 p8)
Pearl’s Waterbury – Business Directory (The Waterbury Record Aug 07 1941 p5)
Pearl’s Waterbury – Mrs. Maurice Gates (The Waterbury Record Dec 18 1941 p4)
Pearl’s Waterbury – ad (The Waterbury Record Jan 01 1942 p8)
Pearl’s Waterbury – Remember the Needy (The Waterbury Record Dec 10 1942 p8)
Pearl’s Waterbury – ad (The Waterbury Record Dec 31 1942 p8)
Pearl’s Waterbury – Congratulations Class of 1943 (The Waterbury Record Jun 10 1943 p5)
Pearl’s Waterbury – free photo ad (The Waterbury Record Jun 24 1943 p8)
Pearl’s Waterbury – Birth of Ralph Perlman’s daughter (The Waterbury Record Jun 24 1943 p8)
Pearl’s Waterbury -Crossman buys Ryder Block (The Waterbury Record Sep 02 1943 p1)
Pearl’s Waterbury – Red Cross (The Waterbury Record Sep 02 1943 p8)
Pearl’s Waterbury – Surgical Dressings (The Waterbury Record Nov 04 1943 p1)
Pearl’s Waterbury – Arthur Mott, manager, drafted (The Waterbury Record Dec 23 1943 p1)
Pearl’s Waterbury – Christmas Cheer ad (The Waterbury Record Dec 23 1943 p5)
Pearl’s Waterbury – Ralph Perlman’ ordered to report (The Waterbury Record Feb 24 1944 p1)
Pearl’s Waterbury -Pranksters – former Pearl’s store part 1 (The Waterbury Record Nov 02 1944 p1)
Pearl’s Waterbury -Pranksters – former Pearl’s store part 2 (The Waterbury Record Nov 02 1944 p3)
Pearl’s Waterbury -Youth Center – former Pearl’s store part 1 (The Waterbury Record Nov 16 1944 p1)
Pearl’s Waterbury -Youth Center – former Pearl’s store part 2 (The Waterbury Record Nov 16 1944 p5)
Pearl’s Waterbury -Variety store – former Pearl’s store (The Waterbury Record Sep 13 1945 p5)
Pearl’s Waterbury -Bailey’s Department Store (Variety store) – former Pearl’s store location (The Waterbury Record Sep 27 1945 p1)
Pearl’s Waterbury – Ryder Block bought by Towne Jan 1949 (Waterbury Historical Society Catalogue #1957.772.11)
South Main Street (Waterbury Historical Society 1957.42.10)
South Main Street (Waterbury Historical Society Catalogue # 1957.728.11)
This is a black & white photograph of South Main Street in Waterbury, VT taken from the top of Bank Hill. On the right side there are signs for Jack’s Clothing store, Holme’s Market, the Post Office and the Texaco station. Waterbury Historical Society Catalogue #1957.42.8) JICNOte: Pearl’s was in the building to the left of the Jack’s sign.
South Main Street – Colorized photo circa-1930′ – 1940s (Waterbury Historical Society Catalogue # 2018.43.1) JICNote: Where women and child are walking was where Pearl’s was
South Main Street – Fire 1981 (Waterbury Historical Society Catalogue # 1927.2.30)
South Main Street – Fire 1981 Rebuild (Waterbury Historical Society Catalogue # 1927.2.30)
4 South Main St Waterbury VT (Google Earth) JICNote: Based on description in newspaper articles, this current building was built in 1981.
Recollections: