The Royal Mounting Book
This Royal Mounting Book, containing “Real Photographs” taken by “Real Photographers,” gives a glimpse of Syracuse life in the early 1900s. Ownership has not been established, but we believe it came from the Beckmann family.
William Beckmann (b. 1862, Germany; came to America at 21; d. 1932) moved from Missouri to Syracuse and soon after established his furniture store in 1902, making it one of the first retail stores in town. The business, located just west of Strieby’s general store on the NW corner of Huntington & Main streets, suffered smoke damage from the August, 1925, fire in the neighboring Oakland Theatre building. His son, Vernon T. Beckman (SHS 1919 graduate), took over the business in 1927. Beckman Furniture Store opened in April, 1936, at their home at 724 S. Huntington St. In 1937, he began renting Rainbow Cottages, three one room cottages he had built along the Turkey Creek channel in the rear of his business. In April, 1955, the newly enlarged Turkey Creek Furniture Shop at 724 South Huntington Street opened for the season. The building to the north had been purchased and a large central room was built to connect both houses. They operated the business at that location through 1978.
