T. William Mather Junior

These three sons of T. W. Mather began working with their father in 1897, seven years

after he moved from Harford County and set up a small store on West Main Street

with a working capital of less than $500. Long-time residents of Westminster during

the 20th century remember Mather’s as the nicest department store in the city, one that

never moved out of the downtown area despite competition from stores in shopping

centers.

The same year the sons joined their father, the store relocated to the first block of East

Main Street where it remained until it closed although it expanded many times. The

Mather business philosophy was to stock reliable merchandise and to under-buy and

under-sell. It worked successfully for more than 50 years and the sales force grew from

two in 1895 to twenty in 1940. Branches were opened in Manchester and in Glen

Rock, Pennsylvania, but were eventually sold to concentrate on the Westminster store.

In 1944, the store was sold but the name retained and it continued another 52 years.

Local shoppers mourned the day it closed for good in 1996 after 106 years. It had

carried quality clothing for men, women, and children, housewares, linens, and gifts –

almost everything people needed from a department store.

In the early 20th century, as the store’s physical plant expanded significantly, the Mathers opened a job printing plant on the third floor of their building. George K. started a newspaper called The Times in 1911 and served as its editor and business manager, but the brothers sold both the paper and the printing plant in 1914. T. W. Jr. and Frank continued to run the department store until 1944. All three brothers were active in church, civic, fraternal, and business organizations over the years. George and Frank were committed to keeping the struggling Westminster Library afloat by offering space in their building. Like many of Westminster’s prominent citizens, the Mathers proved to be philanthropic members of their community.