BRILLIANT ILLUMINATED ARCH IS AN INNOVATION Barker’s Drug. Store and Brinkman Family Theater Are Made Centers of Attraction. In these days of the coming of the Soo railway and the taking on of other metropolitan airs, it is nothing out of the ordinary to see new “stunts” being pulled off in Bemidji every day, but the lighting of Third street, between Beltrami and Minnesota, last night, was an event which was so striking in character as to draw an involuntary “oh!” from all pedestrians who visited that part of the city. E. A. Barker, of Barker’s drug store, and F. £. Brinkman, manager of the Brinkman Family Theatre, turned on, for the first time, the electric current on the magnificent arch which spans Third street, reaching from the theatre to the drug store, producing a sensational effect. The entire street, from Beltrami to Minnesota, was one flash of light, the electric lights reaching to the innermost recesses of the drug store and making them as bright as day. The arch had been put in place by the Warfield Electric company and contained fourteen 100-watt, 18- candlepower incandescent lights, which gave forth a brilliant light that fairly dazzled one; and the effect of the light was to brighten the Brinkman Family Theatre and Barker’s Drug store to such an extent that any one passing that way was bound to stop and further investigate the lighting. The windows of the big Barker’s Drug Store had been decorated in a tasteful manner and one could see all kinds of jewelry, precious stones, watches, clocks, etc , which would rival the display of any metropolitan jewelry and drug store. The interior of the store is always lighted in a splendid manner so that, despite the darkness of night outside, the street and front of the store presented a splendid appearance. (Bemidji Daily Pioneer, Oct 28, 1909)
Exploring the Rich History of the Bemidji Area