Levinson's Music (1978) Ltd. In 2014.--PHOTO COURTESY ESPLANADE ARCHIVESES
There isn’t a musician in the city unfamiliar with Levinson’s Music, a business which operated from 218 S. Railway St. from 1953 to 2017, a total of 64 years. But little recognition is given to the early years of the store and the building from which it operated.
Constructed in 1920, the building’s first occupant was Elliott & Company. Jesse Elliott, a high-end tailor, fashioned clothing in one of the two suites in this building for more than 30 years.
In 1943, Joe Levinson, an established second-hand dealer who also dealt in raw hides and furs, purchased the building. As a second-hand dealer, Joe bought and sold everything from furniture to clothing.
However, he was particular to musical instruments and paid “cash for used guitars, banjos and musical instruments.”
Then there was Joe’s raw hide and fur business. Joe L. Levinson advertised paying the “highest cash prices” for “skunks, badger, weasels, coyotes, rabbits, cow hides, horsehair, pelts and wool.”
Joe had been operating his establishment from a store in the next block when the opportunity arose to purchase the larger building. However, Joe’s relocation of his existing establishment into the new building ran into a snag.
In 1943, city council proposed a bylaw which would prohibit the operation of second-hand hide, fur and pelt dealers in certain localities of the city business section. The proposal was likely prompted by a petition signed by property owners in the area.
Levinson hired local lawyer William Begg to plead his case, agreeing to discontinue the raw hide and fur business, but wishing to carry on his second-hand dealings in his new store. City council agreed. In the fall of 1943, Levinson successfully set up his newly relocated second-hand store, advertising the sale of reconditioned army and air force boots, new and used clothing and of course, musical instruments.
Levinson conducted his business in Suite 218, while tailor Jesse Elliott continued to rent the smaller adjacent Suite 220 until around 1953.
At that time, the business, now only selling new musical instruments and accessories, became Levinson’s Musical Instruments and occupied the entire building.
In 1975, Levinson sold the music store which continued to feature the Levinson name. The popular music store permanently closed its doors to many disappointed patrons in 2017.
Sally Sehn is a past Member of the Heritage Resources Committee, City of Medicine Hat
