
Well-Known Women’s Clothing Store Closes in August 2004
For seventy years, 123 N. Cuyler has been the address for an outstanding retail store of clothing for women. The building at the corner of N. Cuyler and W. Kingsmill was completed for J. N. Duncan ifl December of 1926. The Duncan Building, 45 feet by 90 feet, was designed for businesses on the ground floor (121 and 123 N. Cuyler) and office spaces on the second floor (121 N. Cuyler).

Eloise Lane

Eloise Lane
Seaborn Maps for 1929 and 1930 show the Crystal Palace Confectionery and the French Shoppe at 121 N. Cuyler and Wade’s Store at 123 N. Cuyler. Nine tenants on the second floor included an attorney, a realty company and the P. A. Webb Emergency Hospital. Wade and Ferne Duncan had bought the Fitzgerald Variety Store in 1925 and then operated it for eight years during the oil boom. They named their store “Wade’s Store — If it’s in town we have it.” Ferne said, “Living through an oil boom while you are young and involved has to be one of the finest, interesting, educational and revealing eras that people will ever experience.”
The oil boom was followed by great drought and depression, and the Wade Duncan family moved to a ranch in Wheeler County. Pampa city directories for 1931, 1932 and 1933 show that 123 N. Cuyler was occu- pied by Brownbilt Shoe Store with Joseph R. Lazarus as manager. Bernard M. “Bunny” Behrman, born May 16, 1908, in Toronto, Canada, married Leah Winer on October 22, 1933. They came to Pampa in April 1934 and began to prepare to open a retail store of clothing for women. The space at 123 N. Cuyler was completely renovated for the grand opening on August 16, 1934.
The formal opening of ~ Behrman’s store was heralded by announcements claim- ing rich-hued frocks, accessories and items with New York stamps. Leah Behrman had returned from New York with a full inventory line and was planning future trips to “keep Pampa women in the latest modes.” In following years she went to market with her customers in mind. It was not uncommon for regular customers to receive late night calls with a cheery, “I’m back from market and I have something for you. You’ll love it.” On August 9, 1965, Bernard M. Behrman, Demaris E. Holt and Clayton W. Husted were returning from a fishing expedition in Great Bear Lake near Alberta, Canada.
The three men were killed when their plane crashed in Wyoming. In June 1969 Leah Behrman sold the store to Louis Saied whose son-in-law, Doug – Coon, took over the operation. Coon commuted from Perryton until he and his wife, Georgia, moved to Pampa in 1970. Coon continued to operate the store with the Behrman eye for fashion and design, the same desire for quality and the same traditions — so important to the Behrmans. The 50th Anniversary of Behrman’s was on September 10, 1984.
Coon announced that Leah Behrman would be present to receive a big welcome from former employees and patrons, friends and neighbors, and that an attempt was being made to have as many retired employees as possible to attend a reception on Saturday night. He said, “Leah knows that we care about the tradition the Behrmans established and that we still pursue the same course,” On October 1, 1987, Coon closed Behrman’s, and the space was rented to Images owned by Jaclyn Pearson, Ginger Pittman and Susan Pearson of Spearman. With Betty Elbert as manager, the owners continued the tradition of providing fashionable clothing for women.
Images has been a Brighton Heart Store with a full and complete line of Brighton products at all times. Also Images has carried a complete line of Estee Lauder treatment, fragrance and makeup. After seventeen years of operation, Images is closing its doors for the last time so that the owners can spend more time with their grandchildren. This closing is the end of a 70-year-old chapter on one of Pampa’s oldest, most successful and well-known downtown store.
Over 200 Articles, written by Eloise Lane, were published in the Pampa News. These articles may be accessed by clicking on each section below. A list of articles will be revealed that are linked to a page containing the text of the article.
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Articles 1-20
- Origin Of The "White Deer" Name
- The Log House On White Deer Creek
- Obtaining The Land
- The Lands Organized
- Cattle Brands Tell Story
- Ghosts And All
- Southern Kansas Railroad
- Fire Guard Dam
- When The Railroad Came
- The Sutton RR Station
- Post Office At Pampa
- The Bell Family
- J.C. Short
- Pampa 1892-1902
- Pampa Laid Out In 1902
- Crystal Palace Founded
- Gray County Organization
- Organization - Continued
- Gray County - Lefors
- McLean - The Largest Town
Articles 21-40
- Gouge Eye
- The "Mother Road"
- German Family Reunion
- Desks From Hopkins
- Grandview School Begins
- The Oil Money
- History Wall Painted
- Boydston Or Boydstun?
- Ontario???
- Laketon - Early Farming
- Laketon - Continued
- First Couple To Marry
- Hoover
- Water Well Drilling
- Kingsmills Visit Pampa
- George Tyng Left
- Tragedy In Utah
- T.D. Hobart - Manager
- M.K. Brown Arrives
- Rider Livery Stable
Articles 41-60
- The Pioneer Cottage
- Pampa's First Doctor
- Doctor Makes House Calls
- A Red Cross Nurse
- Pampa's First School
- Hobart Went To London
- Cemetery Began In 1904
- First Business District
- C.P. Buckler Arrives
- Five Barrett Brothers
- Influence Of The Santa Fe
- Trains Still Roll
- John V. Thomass - Teacher
- Cattle-loading Center
- Rolla J. Sailor & Arrowheads
- A.H. Doucette Arrives
- Lands Are Advertised
- The Holland Hotel
- Wheat Left Pampa
- First National Bank Begins
Articles 61-80
- Pampa News Begins
- First Denominational Church
- 2nd Office Of WD Lands
- J.N. Duncan Arrives
- Nels Walberg Sells…
- Dormer Simms
- Fourth Of July Celebrations
- Pampa's First Cars
- Pampa In 1907-08
- J.S. Wynne Family Arrives
- Gray Count State Bank
- Baptist Church Organized (Under Construction)
- Joe & Lizzie Bowers
- Threatened By Prairie Fire
- Library Began In 1907
- J.R. Henry
- Sir Gordan & Lady Cunard
- Three Vicars Brothers
- Dodd Grain And Produce
- December 29, 1991
Articles 81-100
- D.C. Davis Family
- Long Christmas Celebration
- First Christian Church
- Facts About Pampa
- Buster Brown
- The Last Hanging
- Bones Hooks
- The "Red Brick" Is No More
- The Purviances Family
- The Dr. E. von Brunow Park
- Boards Of First Headquarters
- Mary Jane Purvis
- Cook - Adams Addition
- Nativity Scenes
- Clyde Carruth
- The Mine Tragedies
- Additions To Pampa
- Third Family In Pampa
- Frank Dittmeyer
- Bricklayer Indian Jim
Articles 101-120
- A.A. Tiemann
- First Movies And Lights
- Pampa Incorporated
- Mark And Sara Fletcher
- Annie Baker Daniels
- Pampa's Business District
- Birthday Tea Of 1919
- Former Pampa Minister
- John Mack Patton
- The First Brass Band
- Early Graduating Class
- "How We Met"
- F.P. Greever Is Assassinated
- George Tyng's Father
- L.H. & Lula Greene
- John & Lena McKamy
- Robert & Mary Yeager
- "Dear Old PHS"
- Supt. Believed In People
- William A. & Ruth Green
Articles 121-140
- Jason A and Alice Poole
- Wayside School
- Pampa Football Begins
- The Pampa School Building
- Rev. C. E. Lancaster
- Panhandle Lumber Co.
- Will Wilks & Mora Hughey
- An Unusual Valentine
- Charles A. Tignor
- O. A. Barrett
- Poppies In Flanders Fields
- Barnard & Williams Families
- 4th of July Celebrations
- Cuyler Street Underpass
- The King Family
- Kretmeier and Baer Families
- Stephen B. Oates
- Phebe Worley
- Organization of Gray County
- First Courthouse
Articles 141-160
- Pampa Laid Out in 1902
- Pampa in 1902
- W. R. Kaufman
- The Pampa Country Club
- Living In Pampa in 1902
- Pampa Buildings of 1902
- May Foreman Carr
- Scaffers - Early Residents
- Nita Luna
- Former Sub Debs Reminisce
- PHS In 1932
- PHS Appreciated
- The Forth Worth and Denver
- From Pampa to Childress
- The Origination Of "Taps"
- The Warners
- J. C. Studer
- Floyd, John and Otto
- Our American Flag
- Stories and Memories
Articles 161-180
- Museum in Pampa?
- The Franklin Farm
- The Franklin Family
- Beryl Wayne Vicars
- Historian Made Cookies
- The Pioneer Cottage
- The Orginial Swastika
- Library Clerk
- Women's Clothing Store
- Jon and Pat McConal
- Whitey Walker Gang
- How Rudolph Began
- Gwendolen Avenue
- Jerry Kerbow
- Two Paintings
- Second Part - Paintings
- Bones Hooks
- Original Nativity Figures
- Why "V" Instead of "U"
- Pampa Incorporated