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Joseph HorneAmerican businessman, founder of 'The Joseph Horne Company'
Country:
 USA |
Content:
Biography of Joseph Horne
Early Life and CareerJoseph Horne, an American businessman and the founder of 'The Joseph Horne Company', one of the most well-known retail chains in America, was born in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. His father, Henry Horne, a military man, had dreams of Joseph becoming a doctor, but Joseph had different plans. He moved to Pittsburgh, where he found his first job at the Christian Yeager trading firm, the father of Henry C. Yeager, the future founder of the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club. After gaining experience, Horne moved on to another retail chain under the guidance of F.H. Eaton. He quickly rose to become a full partner and eventually bought out the entire business in 1849. The company was then renamed 'The Joseph Horne Company' and became well-known throughout the state of Pennsylvania. Remarkably, Joseph was only 23 years old when he acquired his own business. He joined forces with Christian B. Shea and A.P. Burchfield, expanding his business to unprecedented levels of success. Over time, the leaders of the company became family through marriage, further strengthening their business partnership. In 1881, the company moved into a new building designed by Charles Tattersall Ingham. In 1891, Horne sold the wholesale part of his share in the company to the Pittsburgh Dry Goods Company.
Personal Life and Legacy
Joseph Horne was married twice. His first wife, Mary Elizabeth Shea, was the sister of his business partner and colleague Christian. He later married Emma Galway. Joseph had children, and some, like Durbin Horne, inherited their father's business. Both Durbin and Joseph, as well as Christian Shea, were members of the prestigious South Fork Hunting and Fishing Club.
Horne's Department Stores
Founded in 1849, Horne's rapidly became the main retail chain in Pittsburgh. The 7-story department store complex built in 1879 at the corner of Penn Avenue and Stanwix Street was the first of its kind in that part of the city. The building still stands today, with the old store sign hanging on its facade. In 1972, the company was acquired by Associated Dry Goods, who expanded the network to Erie, Pennsylvania, and Northeast Ohio. However, different stores in the chain were eventually acquired by various companies. In 1994, the last ten buildings were purchased by Lazarus, a division of Federated Department Stores. The old name was abandoned, much to the disappointment of Pittsburgh's loyal customers. Horne's had been the oldest retail chain in the city, carrying a tradition that spanned almost 150 years. The fact that a relatively small network of only 15 stores managed to survive for such a long time earned it a great deal of respect.
Legacy
Even after the closure of all the stores in the chain, the memory of Horne's lives on in the hearts of the people of Pittsburgh. Several buildings still have the old signs preserved, and the main store in the downtown area is surrounded by memorial stones on three sides. Horne's was known far beyond the city, with references to it found in the works of Andy Warhol and the TV series 'Twin Peaks'. Joseph Horne passed away in 1892, but his creation survived him for over a century.
