Daniel Low & Company

Daniel Low & Co. was a landmark store downtown on Washington St., located in the distinctive 3-story, red brick building, formerly the First Church, built in 1826. This popular store operated from 1874 until it closed in 1995.

This corner lot, in what is known as Town House Square, held Salem's first Meeting House from 1634-1673. A bronze plaque on the side of the building, now used by Rockafella's Restaurant, tells the story. The First Church was extensively remodeled c.1874 in High Victorian Gothic style. It was enlarged to the west, twin corner towers were added. Daniel Low and Company acquired the property in 1923 when the First Church merged with the North Church (Unitarian.)

Many city residents remember shopping for gifts and jewelry in the store with the white columns, chandeliers and wide central staircase. Even when being used as a church, the bottom floor was rented out to retail establishments to offset the cost of maintaining the building.

Daniel Low & Co. became famous for their souvenir witch spoon which they began making in the 1880's and advertised in national magazines. They became successful with the creation of their own mail-order catalog, which grew to as large as 200 pages. Their first mail order catalogue was called the Daniel Low Year Book and put out in 1892.

The owner's son Seth took over after Daniel Low died of a heart attack in the store in 1939. Later the company was run by Seth's widow Florence until the mid-1950s. In 1955, Bill Follett bought and ran the company until it was sold, along with the building in 1994.

"Plate under church cornerstone was prophetic" Salem Evening News, Aug.29,2001.
"Farewell to a Salem institution; venerable retailer William Follett to close Daniel Low & Co." Boston Sunday Globe, North Weekly, May 1,1994.
"A stalwart of downtown business; Follett's stores have anchored Salem 62 years" Salem Evening News, Aug. 16, 1989.
Salem's Town House Square Jim McAllister Essex County Chronicles

Anonymous