Although Joseph Horne stores are signs of the past, the once popular retail chain has its special place etched into the collective memory of Pittsburgh.
Many residents still reminisce about the first department store in Downtown Pittsburgh, located in a seven-story building at Penn Avenue and Stanwix Street. The building is still a landmark. And Horne’s had been remembered and praised as a 145-year-old Pittsburgh tradition.
Joseph Horne started his department store business in 1849 and built a landmark location for his store in Downtown in 1879.
Those reading the pages of The Pittsburgh Press or the Post-Gazette from the early 1920s and ’30s certainly came across Joseph Horne ads on multiple pages of the newspapers. The Downtown Horne’s took a lead in defining what was fashionable, what was trendy and what often was not affordable to everyone in Pittsburgh.
An ad from the 1936 Pittsburgh Press, Easter edition, read: “Pittsburgh Wants Its Bonnets with a Horne Label: The buoyancy and joy of spring is perfectly symbolized these days by a shopping scene in our Millinery Salons. The spacious rooms are filled with women eager for the rejuvenating effect of a new hat and here is everything by way of fashion authenticity, beauty and quality, to gratify this laudable quest… Hats for every costume, priced to suit every purse… $3.95 to $25. Horne’s, Fourth Floor.”
The Joseph Horne Downtown location made news and played a prominent role in Pittsburgh news scene. During the devastating flood of 1936, the Joseph Horne Co. building suffered because it was closest to the surging Allegheny River, The Pittsburgh Press reported. At their peak, the flood waters reached the second floor. “It was surreal; you had merchandise floating all over the place,” one witness said in an interview. After the flood, Horne’s message to the community read: “Let us be thankful: Our losses to the building and merchandise were tremendous, but they are nothing compared to that which we would have felt if a single one of our employees has lost his life. … Out of the flood of 1936 there will emerge a greater Horne’s.”
Horne’s was a scene of many protests throughout the years. Its employees in 1953 went on strike to contest working hours and wages. In 1993, it was reprimanded by Animal Passion, a Pittsburgh-based animal rights group, that protested against the sale of fur coats.
And, of course, how could one forget the Horne’s Christmas tree? It’s a long-held holiday season tradition which still lives on even though Horne’s is no more. The installation of the six-story tree placed on the building always has been awaited eagerly. It also served as a signal that it was time to check out the Christmas windows displays at Horne’s.
Some prominent people worked at Horne’s, including Andy Warhol, who had a summer job in the display department at the Joseph Horne department store in 1947.
Joseph Horne’s Co disappeared more than two decades ago. In 1994, Lazarus, a division of Federated Department Stores, bought 10 Joseph Horne Co. department stores.
I was told My great grandfather, Rudolph Dinger was Kaufman’s first truck driver. He was under the truck working on it, got a cold which turned in pneumonia causing his death on January 21, 1911. Leaving a pregnant wife and 2 other daughters. Kaufman’s gave my great grandmother a picture of both a delivery wagon and a new Kaufman’s truck.
When my great grandmother was getting old and not always making sense of what she did, she gave the photo to a neighbor who was a known drunk and most likely sold it. After many attempts both my aunt and I unsuccessfully tried to find the photo. Prior to Kaufman’s going out of business I reachout to their historical department regarding the photo but they didn’t have the picture or his name listed as an employee.
I found a letter from Hornes to my great grandfather stating they didn’t have work
for him but would keep him in mind if something would come up. This made me
wonder; could my family have the story wrong? Maybe he worked for Hornes not
Kaufman’s.
Do you know who the two gentlemen are that are in the photo above? Any information would be greatly appreciated.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Janet Mazur Kushnereit
Daughter of Ruth Ebert and Edward Mazur
Great grand parants: Isabelle Wasson and Rudoph Dinger; born October 5, 1876 to January 21, 1911
I have an orange and beige tall ceramic lamp and pencil holder that says on the bottom ‘ made for the Joseph Horne co’ I want it appraised . Does anyone know what it’s worth
By the way, it says Japanese porcelain made in Hong Kong for the Joseph Horne co.
It’s a very tall lamp and shade with what I believe to be a matching pencil holder .
I may sell it.
I have a framed picture which shows that it was framed by Joseph Horne 22805. Is there any way to find out what who might have done the picture and if it might be worth something?
Did you ever find a photo number list? We have a photo of #22035 and trying to figure out who it is in our family.
I have an old Joseph Horne receipt, no date, for $2 bra and $1.50 bust pads found in old flea market vanity ( trying to date). What could be the year of this purchase?
Have an old J.Happy. display lamp poorly pictured above. Any better pictures would be greatly appreciated. TIA.
I LOVED and miss their chocolate covered strawberries. They were a chocolate shell filled with a strawberry and juice. No one makes them anymore. I also miss their Christmas window displays. The animations were mesmerizing for children. I would just stare and stare as we waited for our bus.
I have a fur coat that was my maternal Grandmother’s she was a socailite in the Pacfic Northwest region during the 30’s -40’s she was any only child and her mother was the 1st women in the Carpenters union, her husband my Grandfather was the President of the Longshoremans Union here in the PNW. The lining of the coat is silk (I believe) with amazing embroidery detail. I’m looking for history about the coat when it was made, value any other interesting facts. My Aunt has a picture of her wearing the coat while having a cocktail with Ray Charles.