Miscellaneous: Milam's Mercantile Firm, 1956, Winn Parish, LA. Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** From: November 15, 1956 Winn Parish Enterprise News-American Milam's Is Oldest Mercantile Firm In Winn During its 50 year history, Milam's Department Store in Winnfield has shared the ups and downs of Winn Parish, recalls Matt Milam, Sr., 72, co-founder and senior partner of the Milam group of stores. Started as a little grocery when Winnfield was a small town, Milam's grew slowly but steadily, weathered the depression following 1929, and today looks confidently ahead to continued growth and service to this area. As the recently remodeled and air conditioned department store began its second week of a huge golden anniversary sale, Mr. Milam reviewed briefly the high points in the founding and developing of the firm which is Winn Parish's oldest mercantile establishment. Opened in 1906 on the site of the present modern store, the first venture was a grocery business housed in a small frame building. Matt had worked for his uncle, Pick Milam, for a year or so in a meat market. He now joined forces with his father, W. M. Milam, pioneer Winn farmer, in the new store. They borrowed $ 1,000, due in three years, from Matt's grandfather, and when he died during the first year of the business, Matt and his father had to pay off the loan to help settle the estate. They managed to secure a bank loan from the Bank of Winnfield, and the business continued. G. P. Long, Sr., was president of the bank then. W. M. Milam previously had farmed near Winnfield and Matt was born there. The senior Milam moved his family to Gansville when they became of school age to take advantage of the educational facilities there. Gansville, birthplace of Mrs. W. M. Milam, was then a lively farm trade center. The family moved to Dodson about the time the Arkansas Southern Railroad came to that community. With two thriving sawmills in the area, Dodson was destined to prosper and the elder Milam figured it would be a good place to settle. He farmed, raised truck crops, peddled meats and vegetables. When the sawmills cut out around Dodson, W. M. Milam decided to seek his fortune in Winnfield, which now appeared to have a better future than any community in the Parish. His decision proved to be right. The little grocery store grew and before many years a modest brick structure was built. Later dry goods were added, and as the business expanded, another large brick building was added. Of his father, Matt says, "He didn't have very much education, but he was long on insight." This ability resulted in a number of vital decisions which proved to be profitable in the light of later events. For instance, he switched from farming to a business in town when he saw that making a living farming was a precarious task in the piney wood hills of Winn. He picked Gansville when it was a bustling trade center, then moved to Dodson at its peak, and came to Winnfield at the right time to take advantage of opportunities there. After the death of Matt's mother, Mrs. Ella Peddy Milam, in 1918, Matt's sister joined the firm and worked in the store until her death in 1954. W. M> Milam passed away in 1932. Several important events stand out in the progress of Milam stores, the present senior partner remembers. One of the low points of the store's history was just after the 1929 crash. Conditions were very bad. The store was overstocked and it owed a large amount to its creditors. Pat Tugwell, the firm's bookkeeper (later Louisiana State Treasurer for many years), assembled a financial statement and Matt put it in his pocket and left for St. Louis to talk to his biggest creditors, the wholesale dry goods firms. An 82 year old credit manager of a wholesale house gave Matt the advice that saved the store from certain failure. He recommended a sale to raise money to pay off the debt. So Matt returned and without telling his father about the seriousness of the situation, he put out a page ad and circulars, advertising merchandise at cost. Customers flocked in and Milam's paid off its creditors. "If it hadn't been for that sale, we would not be in business today," says Mr. Milam. He explained the situation to his father, who agreed that he had done the right thing. Many business concerns throughout the country went broke. Since that day, Mr. Milam says he has relied on consistent advertising to keep people informed about the values at Milam's and to keep business moving. With the advent of chain stores, Matt and his father figured they would have to go into the wholesale business to compete with these stores. So, they opened Milam's Wholesale with a small stock and began making calls on retail merchants. The business has had a continuous growth until today as it serves a territory extending to a 75 mile radius of Winnfield and does a substantial volume annually. Upon the death of "Miss Nettie", as Mrs. Stothart was affectionately known by so many, Milam's store were reorganized. Mr. Stothart sold his interest but remained as a member of the staff at Milam's Department Store. Matt, Jr., and his sister, Helen Milam Byrnes, became partners with Matt, Sr. The Milam stores today number 10; Milam's Department Store, Milam's Wholesale Grocery, Milam's Farm Supply, Milam's Ben Franklin, and Milam's Home Furniture, all in Winnfield; Milam's Home Furniture, Tullos; Milam's Ben Franklin, Jena; Milam's Live Oak Grocery, Natchitoches; Milam's Store, Jonesboro; and Milam's Department Store, Montgomery. "Many things have contributed to our growth and whatever success we have achieved," says Mr. Milam today, "but much of the credit must go to the people who have been our customers through the years." We thank all of them and especially the families who have traded with us so faithfully all during our history. Some of our original customers are still patrons at Milam's. "A large part of the credit must go to our employees. We have surrounded ourselves with the best people in the world. Their loyal, courteous and efficient service is responsible in a huge way for Milam's growth." What about the future? Mr. Milam, still active in the business at 72, predicts good times ahead in Winnfield, Winn Parish, and our nation. "Milam's stores," he adds, "are looking forward to even greater progress in the next 50 years."