John Marshall Alderson II, He carried on the Family tradition.

"John   M.   Alderson,   great,   great   grandson   of   founder   John   Alderson and   who   had   been   clerk   in   a   Palestine   store   previously,   set   up   his first   business   in   Alderson   as   early   as   1878.   But   it   was   in   1884,   after he    retired    as    railroad    agent,    that    he    reopened,    and    in    1888 purchased   the   old   Grange   building   and   opened   his   general   store there.   The   store   was   an   immediate   success.   At   various   times,   he operated   branches   at   Wolf   Creek,   Talcott,   Greenville,   Sinks   Grove, and   Daniels,   all   of   which   were   in   operation   at   one   time   in   1897. These   stores   supplied   the   outlying   farmers,   who   could   not   make   it into Alderson to the main store. None of the branches survived 1920.

Mr.   Alderson   did   a   huge   business   and   was   soon   recognized   as   the   most   important   general   merchant   in Alderson,   and   one   of   the   most   prominent   businessmen   in   the   southern   part   of   the   state.   The   store   sold most   of   the   necessities   of   the   day   including   patent   medicines,   glassware,   lamps,   piece   goods,   shoes, groceries, and railroad ties. By   the   1920s   more   businesses   were   opening   in   the   area,   the   Federal   Prison   for   Women   came   to   town, more   jobs   were   available,   and   Alderson’s   was   selling   more   ladies'   clothing   than   anything   else.   So   when the   old   store   burned   down,   they   went   entirely   into   ladies'   apparel,   bringing   ready   made   garments   from New   York    to   Alderson.        Soon   Alderson's        was    no    longer    a    typical    country    store    -    becoming    more sophisticated and specialized - changing its personality entirely. He   operated   the   store   from   the   Grange   building   until   November   26,   1930,   when   the   building   burned   to   the ground.   The   fire   was   one   of   the   largest,   most   costly   and   most   spectacular   ever   to   occur   in   Alderson.   It was   fought   for   eight   hours   in   freezing   weather.   The   firemen   were   only   able   to   keep   the   flames   from spreading   to   other   buildings,   and   were   compelled   to   watch   the   store   be   devoured   by   the   inferno.   This   fire may   have   been   a   factor   bearing   on   the   purchase   of   a   new   motorized   fire   engine   by   the   town   the   following year. The total loss was $45,000 and all of Mr. Alderson's valuable records. When   the   old   store   burned, Alderson’s   hardly   skipped   a   beat.      They   quickly   rented   another   building   until   a new   one   could   be   built.   Completed   in   1932,   the   new   building   was   designed   by   Walter   Martens,   a   well known W. Va. architect who also designed the Governor's mansion in Charleston. The   exterior   features   an   elegant   facade   of   carved   Indiana   limestone.   Two   large   display   windows   in   front frame   the   walnut   backdrops,   which   are   accented   with   full-length   mirrors   and   small Art   Deco   light   fixtures. The   Interior   is   highlighted   by   all   original   solid   walnut   fixtures   manufactured   by   the   Georgia   Showcase   Co. of   Montgomery,   Alabama.   This   company   has   supplied   the   interiors   of   many   stores,   offices   and   financial institutions that are now historic landmarks throughout the Southeast. The   walls   are   lined   with   walnut-faced   shelves   and   dress   racks. Along   the   tops   of   these   shelves   and   racks the   walnut   is   enhanced   with   elegant   raised   Art   Deco   designs   in   pewter   and   black   The   same   is   repeated through   out   the   store.      Vintage   light   fixtures   hang   from   a   20   foot   ceiling.   Today,   Alderson's   interior   is exactly as when it was built. Some of Alderson's store Credentials: 1. Listed in the National Register of Historical Places. 2. Mentioned in the magazine of Historic Preservation. 3.   Recognized   by   Art   Deco   Societies   from   around   the   country   for   its   Art   Deco   Beauty...described   as   a                          "Deco Delight in West Virginia". 4. Featured in various local, regional and national publications for its architecture and history.

(click photo to enlarge)

(Click images to enlarge)