Before we leave the block, let's take a look at Powers department store. It was the least of the three local department stores - and for some, the best. Its smaller size gave it a cachet: if you couldn’t find it here, perhaps you shouldn't wear it.

Judging from this postcard, we can guess it began in the ornate mid-block building, built in 1893, the very year the Columbian exposition made this style so popular. The 1910 expansion was was more severe - oh, they could be very practical in the early part of the 20th century.