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Show INTRODUCING . . . Yorkshire-Born Yorkshire-Born Local Businesswoman Ethel Robinson Likes the Friendliness and Cooperation of Sugar House People English-born Ethel Robinson for eight years has been one of the outstanding women of the community as a business and club woman and maker of friends. Since she came out here in I 1940 she has watched Sugar House grow in size, population popula-tion and general make-up. That she likes it out here is attested by her statement: "I don't know of any place outside of Sugar House where you'll find such friendliness." Local BPW Founder As a charter member of the Sugar House Business and Professional Women's Club and member of the local Chamber of Commerce (she joined three weeks after she opened up her business, the Lady Gay Shoppe, In April, 1940), she has been active in civic affairs from the start. Of special enjoyment, to her was the good work she did with other members of the local committee in setting up the Boys and Girls club at Fairmont Fair-mont Park. She represented the BPW in that worthy effort. One of those grand, rare women wom-en who doesn't mind telling her age, Ethel Robinson was born In 1893 ("that makes me fifty-five, fifty-five, I think.") in Yorkshire, England. As a result, she has "never spoken like anybdy else." as she says. She was the daughter daugh-ter of John William and Eliza Ann Robinson. Her mother died when she was a girl and she was raised on the estate of Lord Nornmanby, whose ancestors ances-tors date back to the time of William the Conqueror, 1066. She went to school at Whitby, a seaside watering resort, where, besides an education she says, "I got my brogue." ETHEL ROBINSON In 1928 she became associated with Wurm-Woven Hosiery Co. of California and for the next five years she was executive manager of that company with headquarters in Salt Lake. She spent much of her time on the road, selling and training sales crews. Some of the cities on her itinerary during those years'. Salt Lake, Denver, Dallas, Boise, Long Beach, Los Angeles and points north, east, west and south. Her territory covered most of the western states. Of "the road" she says, "Road work is interesting. IF you have the strength." And the way she says that "if" is something to behold. Comes to America In 1910 her father (who by then had come to America and was working with the D&RW railroad) sent for her. She sailed sail-ed from Liverpool, landed in Montreal, looked at the sights at Niagra and hurried on to Salt Lake. Her love of travel has never subsided. During the next few years she was married and two sons were born to her: William C. Robinson Rob-inson and Jack Victor. From the time her children were born until she entered the business world, Ethel Robinson was ac-"tively ac-"tively engaged in raising her sons. Enters Business In 1926 Mrs. Robinson has been actively ac-tively engaged in the business world since 1926 when she went to work for Keith O'Brien's department de-partment store where she demonstrated dem-onstrated the latest thing in textiles, "Ever-fast" materials. Then she worked in ready-to-wear and was department head of toys, luggage and electrical appliances, respectively. Joins Lady Gay Staff During her Wurm-woven days she became associated with the Lady Gay Manufacturing Co. as sales manager. In 1933 she worked for them exclusively. Much of her work was training representatives ('crews") and selling the local retailers. Her associations in those days are dear to her today and of the" "hundreds and hundreds of women" she worked with and trained she still retains a great many close friendships. In 1940 she decided it was time to go into business for herself and she had long since decided that Sugar House was the place for her. April 15, 1940, she opened the Lady Gay Shoppe at 1051 East 21st South, where the F. W. Woolworth building now stands. Dr. Lorin Richards had his offices on the east of her and the Royle Appliance Co. was on the west. She moved into Andy Firmage's clothing store, "Cle-on's." "Cle-on's." Three months later she moved across the street to her present locatiop, 1058 E. 21st South. Helps Found BPW Shortly after her arrival in Sugar Su-gar House she became interested with several local women in forming a Business and Professional Profes-sional Women's club. Ethel Robinson worked with Bertha Barnes, Lillian Royle, Irene Conniff, Thelma and Minnie Garff Maurine Sidell and others. She served as vice president pres-ident of the group in 1945-46 and was treasurer the preceeding year. In 1945 she represented the BPW When Sugar House club joined forces on the Fairmont Fair-mont Park project to fight juvenile ju-venile delinquency. She is a member of the Bethel Baptist Church and is an active church wrker. For two years she was president of the CIC class at the church, Lincoln St. at Ninth South. Tuesday evenings eve-nings she greatly enjoys her associations with CIC members in a weekly social-spiritual get-together. get-together. Mrs. Robinson's philosophy phi-losophy of life is built around her religion. "We've got an eternity to look forward to," she says. "We live what we are." These are bits of her personal beliefs. be-liefs. She became a naturalized citizen in 1932. .Many Interests Reading is a favorite pastime. Though travel and the out-of-doors is her "first love," she does enjoy good books, serious scriptural reading and study. She has just finished "Gentleman's "Gentle-man's Agreement," which she found interesting, but "farfetched." "far-fetched." Her tastes are varied. When pinned down she will admit ad-mit children, and merchandising merchandis-ing are two other first loves. In radio her tastes border on the intellectual. She likes the commentators, com-mentators, the round table discussions, dis-cussions, Town Hall and thinks Gabriel Heater is "wonderful." In politics she is a free thinker, but believes in taking it seriously. serious-ly. She likes Mayor Glade, fears Communism and is interested in labor - management problems among other things. She lives in the Bradford Apartments, 1975 S. 11th East, and thinks it nice living so close See INTRODUCING Page 8 |
