Eaton-Turner
Jewelry
Formerly
Chas. H. Pratt, Jeweler
| Linda
Beattie Anderson has kindly shared these wonderful photos
of the Chas. H. Pratt and Eaton-Turner Jewelry stores, which
once thrived on Main Street. Linda owned Eaton-Turner from 1982
to 1996. In her own words... |
|
"The
Pratts were the first owners, as far as we know. Zip [Zarah Aaron] Eaton
and Roy Turner bought it in 1945 from Mrs. Pratt and her son
George. Roy left by the 1950s, and Zip ran it until 1982 when
I purchased it after working there for eight years.
I
sold it in 1996 to Don Johnson, who has since moved out on
Montana Ave. into a new building."
Visit Eaton Turner Jewelry's website!
|
The
Thompson Block Store 1900-1913
| Two circa
1900 interior views of the Chas. Pratt jewelry store, located
in the Thompson Block, which was on the south corner of Main
and Grand St., where the 1913 Placer Hotel (now Placer Center
Apartments) now stands. |
The
Placer Hotel Store
| From 1913
to 1923, Chas. H. Pratt Jewelers occupied this space in the
new Placer Hotel. On July 1, 1923, Pratt moved into a space
in the Gold Block which had previously been a Red Cross facility. |
The
First Gold Block Store
| Pratt Jewelers
in the Gold Block space, about 1923. In 1928, the Gold Block
and other adjoining buildings would be destroyed by a spectacular fire. A
smaller Gold Block was rebuilt, in a more modern style, and
Pratt reopened... |
1928 Fire
The
Second Gold Block Store
| "My
old showcases [the ones shown above] were moved in from Seattle
in the late 20s as used showcases to replace old ones destroyed
when the Gold Block burned...I sold them to an antique dealer
from San Francisco when Don was moving the business.[in 1996]" -- Linda Beattie Anderson |
Pratt Jewelry Purchased by Eaton and Turner
Zarah Aaron Eaton Jr
Animated Window Displays
| During the 1950s-60s, Eaton-Turner Jewely contracted with Baranger Motions of Pasadena, CA , creators of fantastic small animated window displays for jewerly stores. The themed displays were sent out to retailers on a rotating basis, and never failed to draw attention. Eaton-Turner placed theirs in the left front window. For more about these amazing displays, which command high prices today, take this YouTube link. |
Interior Views of Eaton-Turner Jewelry
Linda Beattie
and employee Kathy Pahut, Eaton-Turner Jewelry, 1980s.
Color Interior Views of Eaton-Turner Jewelry, 1990s
ICONIC SIGN REMOVED
TO COMPLY WITH NEW LAW, 1970s
|
The Eaton-Turner
Jewelry neon sign being removed from the Gold Block in the
1970s, as mandated by a local ordinance which prohibited overhanging
signs on the new "Walking Mall". More art and craftsmanship
gone forever...
The
Eaton-Turner sign, 1954
MANY
THANKS to Linda Beattie Anderson for her wonderful photos
and story!
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