San Francisco's Barbary Coast was at its zenith-wide open, bawdy, brawling, brimming with uncivilized humanity. Painted dance hall girls flounced their way to fame and fortune as a rough-and-tumble assortment of miners, sailors and railroaders chugged the rawest whiskey in the West. All that remained of the Gold Rush was the savagery born of disillusionment.
To this primitive, barbaric land in 1861, came a refined young man of gentle breeding, determined to establish his own music business. Only 14 years old when he left his home in Boston, he endured hardships on land and sea with dreams of his quest keeping him going. Undaunted by the limited potential for fine music in the unsettled territory, Leander Sherman took the first job he was able to find-as apprentice in a clock shop. Once a day every day he wound every clock in the shop. Gradually, he was given more responsibilities until finally he became clock repairman. But still he kept his eyes open for that big chance.
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San Francisco's Barbary Coast was at its zenith-wide open, bawdy, brawling, brimming with uncivilized humanity. Painted dance hall girls flounced their way to fame and fortune as a rough-and-tumble assortment of miners, sailors and railroaders chugged the rawest whiskey in the West. All that remained of the Gold Rush was the savagery born of disillusionment.
To this primitive, barbaric land in 1861, came a refined young man of gentle breeding, determined to establish his own music business. Only 14 years old when he left his home in Boston, he endured hardships on land and sea with dreams of his quest keeping him going. Undaunted by the limited potential for fine music in the unsettled territory, Leander Sherman took the first job he was able to find-as apprentice in a clock shop. Once a day every day he wound every clock in the shop. Gradually, he was given more responsibilities until finally he became clock repairman. But still he kept his eyes open for that big chance.
It came when A. A. Rosenberg, owner of the music store at the corner of Kearny and Sutter Streets, offered him a post as general clerk. His previous experience in repairing clocks fitted him for the very special task of repairing fine European music boxes, which were then the rage in San Francisco.
In September of 1870, Leander Sherman offered to buy out Rosenberg. The kindly old gentleman agreed, and with great courage and borrowed capital, Leander Sherman set his course for what was to become the greatest retail music chain in the world.
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