Benjamin A. Rogers founded the Surprise Store in 1894

B.A. Rogers Jr. operated the store along with his brother after their father died in 1902.

This early photo shows the Surprise Store as the second building in from the left edge of the image.

Surprise Store newspaper ad

Surprise Store newspaper ad, 1910.

A fire destroyed the original store in 1910.

Surprise Store newspaper ad, 1910.

Surprise Store newspaper ad, 1910.

Surprise Store newspaper ad, 1911.

The new store, shown here in 1911, bore the names of B.A., jr. and T.M. Rogers

Newspaper ad from 1911.

Newspaper ad from 1912

Rogers in the 1920's.

Rogers Department store, 1921

The Rogers Building in the 1920's, across Mobile Street from Southall Drugs.

Rogers celebrated its 38th anniversary in 1932.

Rogers Department store in the 1940's.

Rogers 50th anniversary sale in 1944.

Building the new Rogers store, 1947.

The Rogers Building has become an icon of downtown Florence architecture.

Front page of the Florence Times, September 2, 1948.

Congratulatory newspaper ad, 1948.

Grand Opening ad, 1948.

Congratulatory newspaper ad, 1948.

Rogers Shetland Pony Giveaway, 1961.

Architectural detail