This found photo shows a delightful grouping of five bowler hatted men conducting business in a richly adorned office interior. The reverse lettering on the street facing glass reads: “Doors Windows Blinds”.
In the foreground, desks and tables are layered with papers (invoices perhaps), directories, and other ephemera of the industry. Here is a cropped version of the scene.
Several framed images hang on the wood paneled walls. The most legible reads “Window Screens Made To Order”. A close up of another, on the bottom right, shows a building and reads:
Miller House
Windows Doors Blinds
H. E. Ellms and Co.
It's hard to see without a magnifying glass, but I promise it is there.
At the bottom of the front windows of the store, there is a reversed inscription that reads "H. E. E..." although the remainder of the text is obscured.
This, crossed referenced with the wall hanging, leads me to feel confident that this old-timey photo shows the interior of the H. E. Ellms and Co. which specializes in the sale of all things related to doors, windows, blinds, and screens.
Writing on the back suggests an address: “22 N. Washington”.
A 1924 newspaper clipping announces “Pullman-Ellms Inc.” as the successor to “H. E. Ellms Co.” that operated at 22 Washington St. North in Boston, Massachusetts.
The Treasurer of this new company was Harold S. Ellms. Another newspaper article identifies Harold as the son of the original owner, H. E. Ellms (later identified as Henry Everett Ellms). The first newspaper mention of H. E. Ellms and Co. I found was from 1902. A newspaper ad states H. E. Ellms and Co. was established in 1892.
My research suggests Henry Everett Ellms (1864-1953) was born October 1, 1864, about six months before the end of the U.S. Civil War. His parents were Joseph H. and Abby T. Ellms. He married Nettie F. Stimpson in 1898. She died in 1916.
Here is a selection of newspaper articles and advertisements related to Henry’s store and family. .
On a whim I searched eBay for “H. E. Ellms” and found (and acquired) the following billhead (May 4, 1905) and delivery postcard (July 6, 1911).
It is neat to imagine the possibility this billhead or postcard is contained somewhere in the photo! It seems likely one of the men in the photo is Henry or Harold, but I found no other images to cross reference it to.
Henry died on August 13, 1953 and is buried at the Mount Hope Cemetery in Scituate, Massachusetts with his parents and wife.
More Old-Timey Store Photos
Here is a lovely interior photo of an early 1900s doors, windows, and blinds purveyor in Boston, MA.