Mary Alcorn

Samuel bought property in the city on Lambton Quay opposite the department store Kirkcaldie & Stains.

[2] The drapery business was successful, and the Alcorn children enjoyed a prosperous household with a governess and private schools.

This life changed dramatically, however, in 1877 when a fire in the shop destroyed the business and killed a younger daughter of the family, Winifred, aged four.

[5] In 1906, Alcorn and her sister Margaret opened a shop in the new Kennedy Building on Lambton Quay, Wellington called "Liberty's Wellington", specialising in art furniture and furnishings, and started selling goods they imported themselves from Liberty department store in London.

At this time the Alcorns also hired a local artist and embroiderer, Marjory Mills, to design embroidery patterns for their shop.