Vigo County Historical Society

Root’s store had a long and varied history in Terre Haute

Terre Haute shoppers waited anxiously on the night of Nov. 12, 1896, for the doors of a new and improved store to open. At 7:30 p.m., L.B. Root & Co. would welcome them inside for the first time. Before the arrival of television or radio, a store’s opening was a big event.

The store had its opening in 1856 when Edsall, Rice & Co. opened a store on the corner of Sixth and Main streets, now Wabash Avenue. Andrew Jackson Edsall, an easterner who was known for his fashion taste, started the store. Lewis B. Root of Hartford, Conn. was persuaded to come to Terre Haute and help with the business.

The business expanded rapidly and in 1857, it was moved to Fourth and Main streets. A branch of the main store was established in Fort Wayne and was supervised by L.B. Root. Rice died in 1857. Root moved to Terre Haute a few years later and the store’s name became Edsall, Root & Co. Root retired in 1864 and the following year Edsall died.

The store underwent many changes in the next 30 years. Between the years of 1894 and 1898, Lewis Root bought more interest in the business and became the primary owner. The name was changed to L.B. Root & Co. in 1896 with the opening of the new store.

L.B. Root stores groundbreaking occurred in May 1896. It was designed by Floyd and Stone, a local architectural firm. John A. Schumacher Co. of Indianapolis submitted the lowest bid for $42,895 and Charles Tyler did the excavation work.

The building was 90 feet tall, 65 feet wide and 142 feet long. The store consisted of six floors. It had electric lights, but the main lighting came from the huge front windows and a 25- by 30-foot skylight. The store had heating, plenty of restrooms and was designed with plenty of safety in mind. It had an elevator that was powered by the water works. The decorators did such a fine job that the store was known as a retail palace.

The business kept growing in the early 1900s and another name change occurred in 1906, when it became Root Dry Goods Store. It provided special delivery to its Terre Haute customers using 13 wagons and 23 horses. Customers could find any item they wanted or needed at Root Dry Goods Co. including groceries, pianos and Victor victrolas.

In 1972 the store had another face lift, with all new fixtures, walls, ceilings, floors and first floor entrances. The Root’s decor of the 1970s was bright and cheerful. Women enjoyed the fashions found at Root’s and also the hair salon on the third floor. At the new store came to life, the old stores looks faded into the past.

In 1968, Root’s made plans for a second store at Honey Creek Square. Root’s downtown store closed in February 1977 and the store was razed in 1978. L.S. Ayers bought the business in September 1998. Thus ended the tradition of shopping at Root’s.

The Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley, 1411 S. Sixth St., is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.