The signs advertising San Felice and El Verso cigars, two brands that we know were made in Lima by the Deisel Wemmer Company, certainly caught my eye.
A little research confirms that this is Morrison's Cigar Co., and was located on the town square in Lima, Ohio, circa 1904.
In 1904 Morrison added a 2nd location, inside the Hotel Norval. Then he sold this, his original town square shop, to Mr. McCune. You can see the name McCune's Cigar Store at the top of the San Felice sign.
V.R. Morrison then became the manager of the Hotel Norval:
[1904] "The old but true expression that "You cannot keep good people down" was never more fully and strikingly demonstrated in Lima than in the career of the Morrison Cigar Co. A comparatively short time has seen that firm rise to the foremost ranks of the cigar trade of Northwestern Ohio. And now another step forward has been taken. Appreciating the demand for good clean goods at the Hotel Norval, the Morrison Cigar Co has opened a first class branch in the Hotel Norval lobby, with Oscar Long behind the case. Nothing but the choicest brands of cigars and the most select brands of cigarettes will be handled at this new stand. The Morrison Cigar Co. is to be congratulated on the elegant business opportunities afforded in this new venture." [Source ]
1905 Lima News announcement: McCUNE'S Formerly Morrison Cigar Co,, N. W. Cor. Public Square. [Source]
From this point, until 1920, we see ads for Hotel Norval with V.R. Morrison as the manager, but no further mention of Morrison's Cigar Co., or Oscar Long.
Christopher James McCune went on to be a printer/publisher of postcards, as well as having a successful insurance company, and other endeavors. [Source] [Obit]
I will cover Lima's legendary cigar companies, as well as Hotel Norval in future posts.
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Note: These items are part of my ''Collecting Lima Virtual Museum''. They are not for sale.
If/when I find more information on these items, I will add it to the post.
Read the Introduction to my ''Collecting Lima'' Virtual Museum Project, all about my Lima Ohio Bottles, Advertising, Antiques collection.
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Ms. Dow Antiques Blog 'Tique Talk is published by msdowantiques.com
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