Memories Of The Family Business

A friend of mine found these picture on the Bygone Walla Walla page.  People asked if I was one of the sons in the business title, but I was actually the great grandson of B. Barer.  The sons were my grandfather IJ Barer and his brother Dave.  The business, which was founded in the early 20th century sold steel and welding supplies as well as bought scrap metal.  It was located at 11 N. 4th in Walla Walla.  Shown above is the steel warehouse on Rose Street.
The business was sold to Spokane based Oxarc in 2000.

My Brother The Model

In the late 1960s, my father, while partners at B. Barer And Sons, opened his own business, The Fabric Outlet.  It was located on Main near 4th in Walla Walla and eventually expanded to 4th and Main.  My mother loved to sew, so she would be able to work at the store and did most of the buying.  My Dad's uncle and partner at B. Barer, David Barer, was also a partner, but as far as I know, didn't participate in the store's operation.
The picture above is from a newspaper advertisement for the store, featuring my brother, Steve.  The price of 3.88 per yard seems a little pricey to me for the period.
  The store did well for a few years, but new buyers habits and my mom's illness forced it to close a few years later.

My Dad From 1986.

Another picture from B. Barer And Sons.  My dad poses near where the oxygen filling plant would soon be built.  This picture was taped in my dad's office.  A clean up in his and Jean's condo recovered many historical artifacts. Jean, whom he married in 2000, died earlier this year.  My Dad passed way in 2016.

From The Wayback Machine

My Dad and his Uncle Dave at their business B. Barer And Sons.  Dave was one of the "sons" in B. Barer And Sons.  The other son was my grandfather who died in 1967,  The firm sold steel and industrial gases and bought scrap metal.  It was located on 4th and Rose in Walla Walla with a warehouse on West Main and yards on 4th and Sumac and Rees Avenue.

B. Barer And Sons In News In Walla Walla

It's been well over 17 years since the family business B. Barer And Sons was sold to Oxarc, one of it's suppliers. However the company has come up in an interesting "guess who" in the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin.  Annie Charnley Eveland, published a picture taken by the Rose Street Steel Warehouse above.  Readers have had fun guessing who the bearded man could be. 
My Uncle Arny (my dad's brother) guessed that it may have been Scotty Cook, who my dad wrote about in his blog years ago.   Eveland wrote a little about what she learned about Scotty and mentioned my dad and Uncle Arny in a recent edition of her feature column "Etcetera".

5 More Walla Walla Businesses Of The Past

1.  B. Barer And Sons  Founded by my Great Grandfather, B. Barer (above with my Great Grandmother) and his brother Ike.  On the corner of 4th and Rose, it began as an animal hide purchasing outlet, evolving to scrap salvage, structural steel, and industrial gases.  Began in the early 20th century, it was run by 4 generations of the family, sold to Oxarc in 2000
2. Ben Hunt Mfg  A manufacturing company located in the Eastgate, one of B. Barer And Sons biggest customers, if not the biggest, it was not unusual for the company to do two or three large deliveries in a single day.  It began as a blacksmith company making horseshoes and what not, evolved into a metal construction factory known for truck bumpers.
3.  Derby Electric   Great place to buy a color TV. Located on Main and Spokane, it became Radio Shack. 
4, Chances R   Owned by the same family that owned Wades, sold clothing that was cool in the 70s.
5. The Liberty  The only indoor theatre in town, movies would show months after their release, annoying the locals.  Although it's architecture was spectacular, it was musty and less then pleasant on the inside.  It was owned by a Seattle firm during it's heyday

Checking Out History

Thank you to my brother, Steve for this vintage check from our family business, B. Barer & Sons, eventually incorporated. The business was founded by my Great Grandfather, B. Barer and his two sons, IJ and David, early in the 20th Century. The business would last until the year 2000, allowing grandsons and great grandsons a place for summer employment. The business was sold to Oxarc in 2000. Steve still works at the location.

This check was signed by my Grandfather, IJ Barer in March 2nd of 1944. IJ Barer passed away in 1967, and my Dad bought into the partnership with my Uncle Dave. You can read bits and pieces of the company's history at my Dad's abarer blog

Dave And Dorothy

In a classic picture, my Grandfather Barer's brother David with his wife Dorothy. Uncle Dave help build the family business, he was one of the sons in B. Barer And Sons. In Shelby Skates book on Warren Magnuson, tribute was paid to David for being an immigrant from Russia who became a successful Walla Walla businessman. David Barer passed away in 1985. Dorothy left us in 2007. Thank you to Cousin Anea Barer for providing this photo.

A Familiar Picture

My friend, Kathy sent me this picture. Until recently, it was my Dad's building on 4Th and Main. The billboard advertising was painted on the back.
At one time, my Dad ran a fabric store there. When the store closed down, the parking lot was used for the main family business, B. Barer And Sons.
This picture, taken by Greg Lehman, was used in an article in the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin.

A Little Family History

The building on the near right was once our family business, B.Barer And Sons. It was purchased in 2000 by Oxarc. I snapped this picture last year during a trip to Walla Walla.

From The ABarer Blog

My Dad has another one of his stories of days gone by....

The customer is always right
As we plugged in the final computer entries I had a flashback probably sixty or more years ago.The main store front at our place was sixty feet from the front door to the rear. Behind was a driveway between the store and the warehouse.In those days a popular product was steel wire rope cable used for loading hay.I was standing in the driveway with my dad and Uncle Dave when a man approached. Throwing a role of cable on the ground he asserted that the cable was no good and he wanted his money back.Uncle Dave examined the cable and responded that there was an appearance of abuse while being used.The man flew into a rage. "I knew you Jew Sons of ----". He didn't finish his statement.Uncle Dave spun the man who was at least as tall as he was. Picked him up by his belt and collar and "bums rushed" him the sixty feet to the front door propelled him out where he lost his balance and fell. As the man gathered his wits, the roll of cable came flying out after him and the door slammed behind him.The other onlookers present began debating as to whether the guy should have been beat up on the premises or whether there was a liability incurred by throwing him out on a public street.I, of course, was taken aback this was totally out of character but it was explained to me that the merchandise was purchased prior to haying season and now that the season was over and the cable had been used and abused the guy wanted his money back.The ethnic slur was not to be tolerated.

He's Writing Again!!

After a 2 month hiatus, my Dad is writing again. This story about his old employee Matt is a scream!