The Great Liquidation: Herman Wise’s Desperate Plea to Sell Everything in Aberdeen
A frantic letter from a Seattle merchant to his Aberdeen agent reveals the volatile nature of late-19th-century real estate and retail, urging a fire-sale 'regardless of cost' as business conditions sour.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
ASTORIA, Ore., Dec. 10, 1890.
Mr. George Fisher, Dear Sir and Friend:
Yours of the 2d inst. at hand. I am very sorry that you are compelled to resign; well, I can hardly blame you if you can better yourself. However, it is impossible for me to be over there myself, and I really don't care to have any stranger managing the business for me. Therefore, I beg of you stay until the 15th of January, at least, and try to sell out the entire stock if you can, or as much of it as possible; never mind the price,
SELL EVERYTHING, REGARDLESS OF COST.
I don't care to pay the return freight on the stock, and besides, I have too large a stock here already. If Drung S [illegible] business [illegible] say money be compelled to give it up; well, it cannot be helped. I trust you will do me the favor and stay another month and succeed in selling the stock.
Let me repeat it again: I want you to SELL THE ENTIRE STOCK. REGARDLESS OF COST!
I am sure the people of Aberdeen will take advantage of this sale, and that you will succeed in disposing of all or nearly all of the goods.
Your friend, HERMAN WISE.
This letter captures the precariousness of small business ownership in the boom-and-bust cycles of the Pacific Northwest. While modern retail has largely moved online, the concept of a 'liquidation sale' remains a staple of local commerce, though today it is usually a calculated marketing strategy rather than a desperate plea from a merchant facing financial ruin or inventory overload.
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