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Clymer’s Department Store

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Robert Clymer (1872–1949) was raised in the Ottsville area and received his only formal education between the ages of 11 and 15, after which he began working in his uncle’s general store in Kintnersville. In 1897 at the age of 25, he borrowed $2,600 from his mother and bought his first store in Doylestown at 57 West Ashland (Northwest corner of Ashland and Clinton, now a residence). It was a true general store selling everything from groceries to clothing, furniture to notions.
In 1911 Clymer’s moved to a larger location, the former Kolbe store at 36-40 West State (Southeast corner of West State and Hamilton streets, now a parking lot). Clymer’s moved to its third location at 22-28 South Main St., in 1929. There the company celebrated its golden anniversary and published The Clymer Rhymer, which described a customer shopping in the new “department store.”
“While he mused he gathered up a dishpan and some onions;
“A leather collar for his pup and pads to ease his bunions;
“A window shade from Haney’s nook, a lamp from Paul’s domain

“Suspenders and a picture book and a can of varnish stain;
“A blanket and six good cigars, a frozen chicken pie;
“A sponge, a file, some chocolate bars and one blue rayon tie.”
A Doylestown institution for half a century, Clymer’s merged with the Scheetz furniture store in 1951. The Scheetz-Clymer Department Store underwent a bankruptcy reorganization in 1954. The following year the property was purchased by a Philadelphia investor and the business was liquidated. The former department store on South Main Street became the County Linen Center until 2006, and today the building has been transformed into the Main Street Marketplace.
Photo source: Rutherford’s Camera Shop


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