Joseph Horne Co., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania




IMPORTANT NOTICE
A DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY
RESEARCHER IS STUDYING
THE HISTORY OF
Joseph Horne Company

IF YOU WORKED AT OR HAVE MEMORIES,
PHOTOS OR MEMORABILIA ABOUT
THE STORE, PLEASE CONTACT

Elisa M. Astorino, J.D., M.S.Ed.
Archives Researcher & Textile Curator
Gumberg Library | Duquesne University
(412) 396-4870
astorinoe@duq.edu
www.duq.edu/library











"The Best Place to Shop.  After All"

Joseph Horne Co. (1849)
501 Penn Avenue at Stanwix Street
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222

GRant 1-4000







Street Floor
Cosmetic Beautiques • Cosmetics • Fragrances • Perfumes • Better Jewelry • Real Jewelry • Fine Jewelry • Watches • Fashion Jewelry • Fashion Accessories • Shoe-In • Stockings • Scarves • Small Leathers • Handbags • Les Must de Cartier • Headwear • Street Floor Sportswear • Street Floor Lingerie • Blouses • Shoes on One • Stationery • Candy • Games • Books • Street Floor Clocks • Horne’s Gourmet Corner • Horne’s Tea Room
The Men’s Store Men’s Furnishings • Men’s Gifts • Men’s Dress Furnishings • Men’s Gifts • Men’s Sport Furnishings • Men’s Street Floor Sportswear • Men’s Bar

Balcony
Personal Service Bureau • Cashiers • Optique • Tick Tock • Calculators • Radios • Stereos • Television • Beauty Salon

Second Floor
Penwick Dresses • Penwick Coats • Glendale Shop Dresses • Glendale Shop Coats • Glendale Shop Sportswear • Glendale OntheGo • Collegienne Sportswear • Collegienne Dresses • Collegienne Coats • Collegienne Shoes • Collegienne Millinery • College-Town • Second Floor Shoes • Naturalizer • Millinery

Third Floor
Luggage • Cameras • Sporting Goods
The Men’s Store Men’s Clothing • Outerwear • Contemporary Sportswear • Tailored Sportswear • The Stanbrooke Shop • Men’s Sportswear • Men’s Updated Sportswear • Men’s Shoes • Men’s Hats • Young Men
Young World Girls 4-6x • Girls 7-14 • Hi-SHop • Young Juniors • Young World Accessories • Kids’ Stuff • Boys’ Clothing • Boys’ Furnishings • NFL Shop • Infants • Toddlers • Children’s Shoes

Fourth Floor
Slippers • Lingerie • Underfashions • Fashion Foundations • Robes • Loungewear • Sleepfashions • Miss Horne Lingerie • House and Town Dresses
Peacock Lane Galleries of Fashion • Galleries Pavilion • Galleries Boutique • Galleries Coats • Shoe Galleries • Fur Galleries • Bridal Galleries • Regency Room • Country Place • Designer Sportswear • Young Designer • American Designer Bazaar • Upfront • Plaza 4 • Miss Horne Shop • Misses’ Dresses • Coat Salon • Suit Salon • All-Weather Coats • Galleries Lingerie • Peacock Lane Millinery

Fifth Floor
Gifts • Artificial Flowers • Sliver • China and Glass • Table Linens • Crystal • Carlin Shop • Bath Shop • Towels • Bed Linens • Blankets • Draperies • Fashion Fabrics • Needlework • White-Elna Sewing Center • Floor Coverings • Area Rugs • Lamps • Pictures

Sixth Floor
Furniture Galleries • Furniture • Recliners • Sleep Shop • Casual Furniture • Music Center • Williamsburg Craft House

Seventh Floor
Housewares • Cookware • Hospitality • Small Electrics • Appliances • Vacuums • Plantation • Affordable Furniture • Clocks • Cleaning Aids • Garden Shop • Hardware • Paints • Home Improvement Center • Sporting Goods • Ski Shop • Toys  Pet Shop • Assembly Hall

Liberty and Olive Streets
The Music Center

(741,000 s.f.)






Mt. Lebanon
Washington Road at Central Square
1945

Whitehall Terrace
Brentwood-Whitehall
1951
70,000  sq. ft.

Heights Plaza
Natrona Heights
1956
73,000 sq. ft.
East Hills

1960

Northway Mall
Ross Township
1962
250,000 sq.ft.

South Hills Village

1965
260,000 sq. ft.

Greengate Mall

1965
185,000 sq. ft

Monroeville Mall
Monroeville, Pennsylvania
1969
241,000 sq. ft.
Beaver Valley Mall
Monaca, Pennsylvania
1970
194,000 sq. ft.

Southern Park Mall
Youngstown, Ohio
1970
188,000 sq. ft.

Randall Park Mall
Randall Heights, Ohio
1976
163,000 sq. ft.
Josephine's on the Mezzanine

Great Lakes Mall
Mentor, Ohio
August,1977
118,000 sq. ft.
Josephine's







Coming in due course.






195 comments:

  1. I am searching for a picture of Joseph Horne's door man. He was reported to be so tall that Barnum & Bailey wanted him to be part of their exhibition. Anyone with an image please email to Teacherturner@aol.com. He is my ancestor.

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  2. I have a horne's "h" from one of the signs at Beaver Valley Mall. It was lighted from behind. It is about 4.5' tall. If interested, contact me at mentzerks@aol.com.

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  3. I am looking for photos of the old horne's dpt. store that anchored in the former east hills shopping center. of course before it closed. to help support a screenplay i'm writing about east hills. any one with a image please email to derek1st.talentfilmproductions@gmail.com thank you

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  4. I am looking for a photo's of the old joseph horne's dpt. store from the former east hills shopping ctr. for a screenplay i'm doing on east hills. please send me photo's to derek1st.talentfilmproductions@gmail.com thank you

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  5. I am looking for shopping bags or boxes from the last year or so that Horne's was in business. Please contact at pghkmh2@yahoo.com and place hornes in subject line. thanks

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  6. There was a Horne's at Ross Park Mall. It opened in 1986 shortly after the rest of the mall opened. The space was supposed to be a Gimbel's, but the chain went bankrupt before it could open its new store. Horne's was planning to remain at Northway Mall, but decided to move when the space became available. Initially, Horne's remained at Northway on the lower level selling furniture and home goods. However, they closed this operation a few years later and focused exclusively on the Ross Park store. The Ross Park store became a Lazarus in 1994 when the chain was purchased. The former Horne's at Ross Park was demolished to make way for Nordstrom shortly after the Federated-May merger was completed.

    To the poster above me--the Horne's bags of the late 1980s and 1990s were beige with blue stripes and the word "horne's" in lowercase (along with the signature double horn logo). Boxes from the time period were blue with only the name, written diagonally in the lower right-hand corner. I know I have a bag somewhere but at this time am not planning on parting with it.

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  7. I haven't looked for my bag yet, but I also have a red tin from Horne's. In the old days, department stores sold candy (even the suburban locations). This one is a plain red tin with a gold sticker on it, featuring a blue Horne's logo and name. I'm pretty sure it's from the late 1980s--it was my grandmother's but the marketing on it looks to be from that time. I do remember getting candy at Horne's in the 1980s--the selection was always good. (I always opted for the bags over the tin).

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  8. there was also Westgate Mall in Cleveland formerly a Halle's location then Hornes.

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  9. My grandmother worked at Horne's in either Pittsburgh or Mt. Lebanon as a Comparison Buyer during the Depression. I don't have any special info for you. Just that she would visit other stores to find out their prices, and report back to Joseph horne's so they could adjust their prices.

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  10. Steven M. Plavny11 February, 2011 23:29

    I had the privilege to work at Joseph Horne Co. selling men's clothing and fragrances during the early 80s in their Downtown Flagship Store. What a class store! New York's famous department stores had nothing on Hornes. From the gilded ceilings on the first floor to the blue clouds handpainted on the ceilings of the elevators and the crisp linens and immaculate place settings in the Tea Room, it was a beautiful, classy place to shop and dine, especially during Horne's annual spring flower show or at Christmastime.

    Joseph Horne's merchandise was the best too. From Cartier watches and Yves St. Laurent Rive Gauche in the Fourth Floor's Galleries of Fashion to Jaeger British Sportswear and, of course, Hornes' own handipped chocolates, it was first class all the way.

    And who could forget Horne's annual Symphony Fashion Gala? The fashion fete was truly one of the high points in Pittsburgh's social season for many, many years. And to my knowledge, hasn't been replicated since.

    It's truly a shame that today's young people never had the thrill of dressing up to go Downtown to shop and spend the day at Hornes. Gone are the days of real customer service, store charge plates, doormen, tissue paper and boxes w/each purchase and next day parcel delivery not to mention smiling well dressed and groomed salespeople. Today's big box stores are nothing in comparision. Those were the days!

    Steven M. Plavny
    -- Former sales associate and loyal patron of Joseph Horne Co.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Steven - I am the researcher list at the top of this entry. I would love to hear your stories. Would you contact me? astorinoe@duq.edu

      Elisa M. Astorino

      Delete
  11. Dear Steven:

    Thank you for your kind comments about Joseph Horne Co. Years ago, I received Christmas catalogues from Joseph Horne Co., and from that small experience, it was clear what kind of institution Horne's was. Your comments only serve to confirm my earlier belief.

    A few years ago, I attended a wedding in Pittsburgh, so I dragged my wife across the river to go to Kaufmann's (Macy's by then) and we did pass by the beautiful old Joseph Horne building on Stanwix Street. How sad it seemed to me, and if ever there was a case for the existence of "ghosts," I would say that the empty, disused image presented by the building, at the very least, stood in stark contrast to the many wonderful things that went on there on a daily basis.

    As you say, those were the days, and at least there are memories. Thanks for sharing them in such a positive way.

    BAK

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  12. I worked at the Joseph Horne Co flagship store in the mid 60's in the Visual Merchandising dept and was part of that magical time when, especially at Christmas, the main floor was transformed into a Christmas fantasy.

    If anyone is interested in any info I may have, please communicate.

    (PS I also did the same at Kaufmann's a number of years later).

    san9d@yahoo.com

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    Replies
    1. Hi,
      My father, Andrew Pendro, worked at Horne's downtown location from the mid 1960s-the mid 1980s. He decorated the first floor and windows. He also decorated for Heinz Hall's fashion shows. I would love to know if you have any photos during that time.

      Delete
  13. I have a number of items that, I am told, came from the downtown location.

    These items include:
    -The flags that hung from the side of the building down Stanwix St. and Penn Ave. (circa 1970's)
    -18 pieces of very large (58"x90 1/2"x1/2") curved glass featuring the trademark double horn logo
    -The indoor Christmas tree, seasonally displayed on the first floor.

    If anyone has pictures of these items in their hay-day or any other detailed information regarding them, please contact me.

    I'd be happy to send pictures of them or show them to any interested party. They are currently located in Lawrenceville Pa.

    pdtsolutions@gmail.com

    Thank you-

    Patrick Tracy

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hello I have a kitchen hutch I bought at an auction. It say Cecil Joseph Horne Co housewares department. I has a flour sifter and a tin bread box and enamel top that pulls out for a work space. can anyone help me find out more info and maybe what it is worth. I can send a picture. please help me! my name is K'leen and my e-mail is kcugs@comcast.net

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  15. BAK,

    Great website! Thank you for capturing these "moments in time"!!

    ReplyDelete
  16. We recently aquired the red and yellow drapes that we believe hung in the two-story store front of the Jospeh Horne's Downtown Pittsburgh store. Anyone interested in these treasures should drop me an email at talsnoopy@yahoo.com. They have been well preserved!

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  17. I worked at Horne's from 1985 to 1994 and only have wonderful memories of this majestic department store. Thanks for setting up this site to preserve the fact that such a place did REALLY exist. In the days when Target and Walmart are considered department stores, it is hard to believe there was a place like Horne's.

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  18. Anyone remember the year (late 60's/early 70's) when Horne's used Scrooge as their Christmas advertising on the cover of their catalog and the real gift boxes (not pop up). All in full color.

    Looking forward to your memories and comments.

    RAS

    ReplyDelete
  19. Debbie in FL now, Pitts before24 November, 2011 00:44

    As a young child I used to hide in the circular clothes racks. Mom didn't panic back then in the 50's and 60's, She just said my name and out I came. Also the delectible restaurant in the downtown Pittsburgh store. What a treat! Santa and the little childrens area where they set up a place for the kids to buy their parents a gift. I still have the pin I chose for mom. What a fine store! And those chocolate mints! Yum. Wasn't the balcony called the mezzanine?

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    Replies
    1. It was the mezzanine! I loves that store! And the toilets flushed by stepping on a button on the floor!

      Delete
    2. I remember the toilets that flushed by stepping on the floor button I used to always insist on going to the bathroom when I was shopping at the downtown store as a child in the late 80s and early 90s

      Delete
  20. Debbie,

    The restaurant was known as the "Tearoom" before being changed to "Josephine's". The children's area for shopping at Christmas was "Santa's Secret Gift Shop" on the 7th floor. Yes, the balcony was called the mezzanine.

    Take care and Happy Holidays,

    Dick

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  21. Hello, I was just given a vintage blonde colored Fur coat from my grandma for Christmas. The tag says "Joseph Horne CO Pittsburgh. CAn anyone help me get more information about this coat? Thank you Ann - iwitness@weartheword.net

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  22. I just came across the Scrooge poster from a long ago Joseph Horne Co Christmas theme. I have hard backed it so it no longer rolls but if anyone is interested in it, let me know.

    wbhowe@comcast.net

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  23. Hi wbhowe, thanks for the message. Would love to see the image. I interpret that 'hard back' means printed on a stable surface.

    Thanks, Dick

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  24. Bonnie Jan. 19, 2012


    I just bought a four drawer desk( from an auction) with the paperwork stating it was from Joseph Horne Co., Pittsburgh. It weighs a ton and in in great shape.... What a steal for $25.00!

    mulvaneyj@bellsouth.net

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  25. I have a childs brown leather, button up shoe. It has a tag inside with Josph Horne Co. Pittsburg on the inside. I was wandering if I can find out more about the shoe. I dont want to get rid of it but was just wandering its worth. If anyone knows any info or where to find it, please let me know. Thanks

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  26. I recently found dishes that are marked "made expressly for Jos. Horne Co. Pittsburgh Pa." They also have the Limoges,France mark of two banners & flying bird,which is ca. 1891. They are white with a green key design around the parimeter, with gold trim around the rims. Their condition is near mint. I have 4 complete place settings along with extra pieces. A complete setting consists of dinner plate, bread/salad plate, cup and saucer, soup bowl, dessert/berry bowl and butter pat. Does anyone know - were the dishes made for sale at Hornes or were they made to be used at Hornes in the restaurants - and the approximate age? The butter pat in particular leads me to believe they were possibly made in the 1930's. I'm picture challenged on the internet but if anyone is interested I can text you photos. I am in the south hills area of Pittsburgh and treasure my Hornes memories; particularly the tea room. I never minded waiting in line with my mom for a table, because the book section was near the entrance and I'd go there and browse till my mom reached the entrance of the tea room. I always hoped we'd get a space around the edges with the nifty pull out tables!

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  27. As I type this I'm sitting in a hotel room in the Residence Inn/Milwaukee - which is the old Gimbels Building. Glad they didn't tear it down, but how sad that we have so very few "Department" Stores left.

    REAL Department stores from the past, that is.

    Scott S.

    I grew up in Pittsburgh and remember going shopping with my Mother and Aunts at Joseph Horne, Gimbels, Kaufmanns, Rosenbaums, and Boggs & Buhl. Horne' was my favorite. Because I saw an orthodontist in the Oliver Building every two to three weeks, we would have lunch in the Tick-Tock room or the Tea room or one of many others. Starched napkins and tablecloths -- china plates and cups and saucers - fine silverware -- it really was an opportunity for a parent to teach their children 'manners' and 'table etiquette.' One spoke in hushed tones -- sat up straight - and showed politeness while in one of these fine restaurants.

    The Horne 'Balcony' or Mezzanine was a great place to meet or wait for your friends while shopping - I recall beautiful, comfortable sofas and armchairs - end tables and lamps - and of course, everyone dressed to shop back then. (...we've become a nation of slobs, I'm afraid....) I remember the steps leading up to the balcony were actually worn to the point that there were indentations in the treads from years of people going up and down the stairs. I remember the special telephone booths....and the package check desk.

    A special treat for a young fella was to go around the corner by the elevators - on the Balcony, the doors were glass - so you could watch the inner workings of the elevators as they went up and down the shafts. The showcases and other store fixtures were elegant and finely crafted.....and I can still recall the various fragrances as you walked thru the store - floor by floor....

    I remember my Aunt INSISTING that we have our purchases 'delivered' rather than us taking them home with us. She'd say "one of these days, you won't be able to get goods delivered - so take advantage of it now!" How right she was. Frankly, I can't imagine Aunt Edith or Aunt Florence being able to understand a Walmart or a Target - and they'd be horrified to see how some people go out in public dressed so terribly. My how times have changed.

    Once my sister got her driver's license, many Friday or Saturday Evenings were spent at the Northway Mall (a visit to Hornes, of course) We thought the fountains and pools of water and the various landscaping indoors was simply amazing.....BUT -- people still dressed up to go shopping albeit a bit more casual.

    I live in Detroit now - J.L. Hudson is no more - just like Hornes and Gimbels and John Wanamaker (Philadelphia) -- but when I get back to the 'Steel City' - I make it a point to go to Kaufmanns - it's a shadow of its former self - but it's still a magnificent old building....(go to the top-most open floor - and in one corner you'll still find one of the old wooden-treaded escalators still there - it no longer runs, but it's still there!

    And - for anyone travelling to Philadelphia - you must stop by the old John Wanamaker Store (now Macy's on Market and Broad - the magnificent Pipe organ is still there - it's still played each day - but unfortunately only two or three floors are open for business. And as for the salespeople? Well - let's put it this way: They'd have been fired within 5 minutes back in the 60s.....

    Thanks for a GREAT site - and for allowing us all to share our memories with each other!

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  28. Every city, in its day, had one store that stood out; for Pittsburgh it was Horne's. I visited the downtown store twice in the mid 80s, first when it was part of ADG, then afterwards when it was privately held. The store was stunning, it was grand and it had an elegance that Kaufmann's did not have. Part of this was due to the fact that ADG NEVER spent money on store upkeep, so the store looked like it was stuck in its heyday of the 50s...but that was alright. The staff was knowledgeable, polite and courteous. It is said that when Macy's purchased the chain (gee, a common feeling by most people), they not only turned it into Lazarus, but they closed the old store, and erected this modern store that barely lasted 5 years before closing it. The people of Pittsburgh, who once had a bustling downtown with an amazing selection of retailers at its core, are now reduced to just Macy's (in the old Kaufmann location).

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  29. ex-buyer,

    Thank-you for your comment. Horne's was an amazing store and experience. I worked in the flagship store for a relatively short period of time in the Visual Department. It was an amazing collection of creative and fun people in a beautiful environment to be creative. It will always be one of my favorite jobs. I only departed because I returned to college. (I was there post Warhol, however). If anyone is interested, I have some great insights into the operation as I knew some of the management at, what I consider, to be its height.

    Dick

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  30. Thank you, Dick, for your insight . . . along with thanks to Tom for his on Joseph Horne Co.

    I was never lucky enough to visit Horne's, but on a recent trip to Pittsburgh, rode past the once-elegant old store. The typical sense of pervasive sadness reigned, and the creation and maintenance of this site are my way of at least keeping the memories alive.

    From ads and catalogs, I had the impression that Horne's was very fine indeed, and I wish that I had access to pictures of the store's street floor, tea room, and its other defining aspects. Perhaps some day they will come to light.

    It is interesting to read about Horne's in the Pittsburgh Gazette, and I was very happy to find a clean version of the logo that graces the top of this page, one that, for a person from quite far away, indicates, for me at least, the status of this marvelous, dignified, and truly-missed store.

    Bruce

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  31. It would be great to have some kind of reunion of ex-Joseph Horne Co. employees.

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  32. Dear Anonymous,

    That sounds like an interesting idea. I think it may be difficult to locate such a diverse and specialized group of people. A possible source of information could be old copies of the in-house newsletter "The Horne Piper" or, a stretch, records from Camp Horne, the employee retreat, in Ross Township.

    I am in California and worked in the downtown store in the late 60's and haven't any idea where any co-workers may be. Richard Pivoroto, husband of Mimi Burchfield, was the president/ceo of the company at that time. He later became ceo of ADG and has since passed away at his home in CT.

    Dick

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    Replies
    1. I am familiar with Camp Horne Rd. and I know it was named for the retreat. Does anyone know exactly where the employee retreat was and when it opetated?

      Delete
  33. i have just came across a travel trunk from the joseph horne co. there are 4more from the same house are they worth getting . they are beautiful . thanks

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  34. A friend of mine used to order Chocolate Easter Eggs that had a hard chocolate shell on the outside and the smoothest, creamiest chocolate on the inside with bits of walnut in it--does anyone know if you can still get them anywhere today? They were the best!

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    Replies
    1. I worked loss prevention at the Joseph Horne's, Randall Park Mall in the early 1980s. To this day, I remember the chocolate covered strawberries! I have never found any so good. They put a creamy white filling around d the berry before dipping it! Memories!

      Delete
    2. Yes, I was the Candy Buyer at Hornes in the early 1970's. The Chocolates were made by Betsy Anne Chocolate...i believe they bare still in business, although I do not know if they use the same recipes. https://shop.betsyann.com/easter-eggs---now-50-off-c26.aspx

      Delete
  35. Dear A,

    I am not sure if you can still buy the same eggs you referred to but I do know that Horne's received their candy from Betsy Ann Candies in West View. Since I no longer live in Pittsburgh, I have no idea if Betsy Ann is still in business. Good luck in your quest, I hope you are successful.

    Dick

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  36. Dick and A, Betsy Ann Candy from West View still sells the pecan meltaway Easter eggs you mentioned. They also have a website, where you can order on-line. Betsy Ann also provided the fine chocolates found at H & S Pogue's Marketplace - and probably did so for most of the ADG stores.

    ReplyDelete
  37. I worked at Joseph Horne's from 1959 to 1963 fresh out of College!!! I was hired to work on the "Flying Squad". We were sent to work in the various departments as needed. Eventually I became the Staff Asst. in the Infants and Childrens Dept. on the Third Floor and eventually the Assistant Buyer. The Dept. became very large so they decided to split it and I was very disappointed when the new buyer who was appointed came from womens Lingerie to head the new dept. My merchandise mgr. told me since I was recently engaged and would be getting married soon, I could not have the new department!!! So I was transferred to the "Downstairs Store" to work in the Childrens 3 to 6x Dept!!!Many time I have thought that I should have fought for that buying job!!! However, I did marry and my husband and I raised five children. I wasvery fortunate to stay home to raise my children.
    I would like to comment that looking back,I look on my four years at Horne's very fondly. I learned so much from the buyers. They demanded hard work but never asked you to do what they themselves would not do. It was truly a great privilege to work for the Joseph Horne Co.

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  38. I'm looking for information from the 1920's when my Dad, Max Walske worked for Joseph Horne's at the downtown original store and went abroad often as a buyer of men's suits; also a woman whose first name was Catherine who also worked there in the 1920's. Thanks Ethel

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  39. Looking for information on Joseph Horne's from the 1920's, specifically on Max Walske and a woman named Catherine who both worked there. He was a buyer for men's suits and went abroad in the 1920's for the store, among other duties.

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  40. I seem to remember a really bad flick on television which featured a female department store employee being hunted down by a rapist in the closed and darkened store. I know it was Horne's because they ended up running around the roof store sign. Hardly a promotion for such a fine store. Does anyone else remember this bad movie??

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  41. The movie was "Lady Beware"

    Lady Beware is a 1987 American thriller film, directed by Karen Arthur. It stars Diane Lane, Michael Woods, and Cotter Smith. The film is marketed with the tagline "When fantasy leads to terror." It was filmed on location in and around Pittsburgh.

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  42. Does anyone have a store directory form Horne's or Kaufmann's downtown that they are willing to sell? Please let me know. Thanks!

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  43. My brother has a vintage icebox from Joseph Horn was wondering what it;s worth,does anyone have any idea? where can i get information on this.My email address is melvin1202@yahoo.com

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  44. melvin1202,

    Try a local antique store or antique mall to get an estimate of the value of the icebox.

    Dick

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  45. I just happened upon this site and am so disappointed that Horne's is no longer. I attened Point Park College in the mid-seventies and we absolutely loved dressing up and going shopping...which for us was more browsing and enjoying the ambiance. Many special occasions and achievements were celebrated by lunch in the tearoom. I hope the building will be put on the historic register and something magnificent done with it to honor its legacy.

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  46. I am sorry to say that Horne's is now occupied by Hi Mark/Blue Cross Blue Shield and used as office space. The original bronze plaque remains on the building at the corner of Penn and Stanwix.

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  47. Nancy Thompson Handler17 July, 2012 18:39

    My father, Ralph Thompson, was the buyer for Penwick Coats and Suits for many years. He was a wonderful man and whenever I would pull out our "gold" charge plate, all the sales people would ask me if I was his daughter and tell me how much they loved my dad. He started as a stock boy during the Depression and worked there his entire working life. As a little kid, we would go to Camp Horne in the summers. During the depression, employees camped there and were taken to and from the store in buses. I loved picnicing, swimming, playing shuffleboard and watching the shows and have a few pictures taken there if anyone is interested.

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    Replies
    1. I remember your father. I worked as an asst buyer for Addie Herriot in Penwick Sportswear (next to Penwick coats). He was
      Addie’s good friend and such a gentleman.

      Delete
  48. Nancy,

    A great memory from an outstanding store and the manner in which the employees were respected. Remember it well as a distant past.

    Dick

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  49. My mother worked at Horne's in the 40's (?)I have pictures of Slim Byrant & His Wildcats performing at the Horne picnic in 1949. Also have pictures of the Price family. I would love to send these pictures to someone---is there a museum in Pittsburg that would take them?

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  50. Try the Heinz Museum at this address:

    http://www.heinzhistorycenter.org/

    I am sure they would be pleased to have them.

    Dick

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  51. Try the Heinz Museum at:

    http://www.heinzhistorycenter.org/

    I am sure they would be pleased to have the photos.

    Dick

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  52. Thank you so much! I just sent them an e-mail. I know my mom had a few more items so I will look for those.

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  53. You are most welcome. We need to preserve the past to proceed into the future.

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  54. Thanks again for your help. I did get a response from The Heinz History Center; they said they would love to have the pictures as they had a lot of Horne's records and photos. Some of your readers might like to know that if they were looking for something in particular. I have a copy of The Horne-Pipe(Feb 18 1949) that I am sending them also. I'm so happy to have found a place for these items. thanks again! Sandy

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  55. Glad I was able to be of assistance. Please pass the word along should you find someone else with information or memorabilia.

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  56. I stumbled upon this page by accident. I have made comments on this blog about Bonwit Teller . I am in NJ and never heard of Horne's but it sounds like it was another grand dept. Store swallowed and closed by the unfortunate fate of time. I was prompted to google this dept. Store when i discovered a price tag on a pair of art moderne terra cotta satues i have and love. How nice to know they came from such a fabulous store. Joe Licata

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  57. As the unofficial spokesman of the former Horne's dept store, thank you for your comment. It was a great store. Swallowed, as you said, by Lazarus which also failed when they opened a store in downtown.

    With the resurgence of downtown areas across the country, many stores will be opening in those areas but not in the the grand manner in which they originally existed. Time moves on and so does retail.

    Dick

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  58. I also grew up north of Pgh. and remember fond memories of Joseph Horne, Gimbels and Kaufmanns in the late 50's and early 60's. I would love to find some recipes, especially Angel Pie from Joseph Horne, and any from Gimbel's (chocolate covered strawberries)or from Kaufmann's. Any clue as to find these recipes would be helpful.
    Thanks, csb1941@verizon.net

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  59. Hi- in 1970/72 I worked in stock at the Horne's Whitehall store. I was in the DECA program in high school and that store and all the wonderful folks who worked there - well they still live in my memories. Loading the UPS truck, the metal bins from the downtown store loaded with fresh bake goods, keeping busy bringing up tv's stereos, lamps I just loved all of it. So sad its gone now.

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  60. I recently bought a pair Italian Joseph Horne leather gloves....they are in excellent condition I can provide pictures if someone could give me some information on them I would greatly appreciate it my emai is jda1010@sru.edu

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  61. I worked at the Downtown Joseph Horne Co. in the Display Department during the early 1980's Renaissance of Downtown Pittsburgh.
    I must disagree with the prior post, declaring that ADG "never spent money on upkeep". More accurately; the store's management, which still included members of the Horne family (Burchfield) and the director of display ( John Brown) had a great deal of taste and respect for the historic quality of the interiors. They did, in fact spend a great deal of time and effort restoring the main sales floor to it's original turn-of-the-century grandeur (removing some of 1950's and 60's alterations)...and the rest of the building was very well maintained with every corner, constantly styled by the artistic members of the large display staff.

    Definitely an era, lost to the history books. The "Spring Flower show" was an event that no modern Department Store could ever rival, with thousands of dollars spent every year to turn the main sales floor into a themed garden, complete with fountains, trees, masses of flowers and even one year; tropical butterflies !

    I have available some photographs of various interiors and images of some of the most spectacular display windows from the period.
    You may contact me here if you are interested: mheinznyc@aol.com

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    1. Hello M Heinz,
      I too worked with Jon Brown at Horne's. I loved working there. It was the same time when they were filming the movie"Lady Beware". Do you have any pictures of window displays during those years. I would say about 1985-86, as the film came out in 87. I loved those days! :)

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  62. My Grandfather, George Papanickolas, was the head chef for the downtown store for many years. I still have his knives and a 100th anniversary plate

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  63. I worked at South Hills Village store for several years in the 80's. The store manager was Jim Clagg. He was a wonderful, no nonsense manager and I learned so much from him. I really miss Hornes quality,Hornes Customer Service and the great friends I made there.

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  64. Avonworth Community Park located in Ohio Township and Kilbuck Township was originally owned by Horne's as a retreat for their employees. It was sold to the 5 communities that make up the Avonworth School District in the 1960s.

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  65. Does anyone know what happened to the 4 or 5 branch locations that Horne's operated in Ohio. Are they still open? I believe that they were Higbee's and then Dillards and were acquired in some sort of legal settlement. Anyone have any details?

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    1. Dillards took over the Horne's store plus the Higbees store.

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  66. I bought my wedding gown at Horne's in 1986 on the 4th floor in the downtown Pgh store. My mother bought her wedding gown there in 1955. I still have the wonderful memory of going to Horne's with my mother to buy my wedding gown.

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  67. I have the original Marklin train display that was used in the store window at Christmas to promote the Marklin trains in the toy/hobby area in the downtown store at penn and stanwix.

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  68. Appreciated your comment regarding the Marklin train display used in the Christmas window. Do you remember the year/s?

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  69. I worked for Horne's in the 80's, in the accounting department, then went to work for Dave Kaplan in the Horne's Commercial Interiors Division, down on Seventh Avenue. Oh, the joy of receiving your first employee discount card!

    I have two Christmas copies of the "Horne Pipe" the company newsletter. For Christmas, the back of the newsletter was printed with a lovely Christmas-themed picture, suitable for display.

    I also have two "service award" pins, one goldtone, one silvertone, with the double horn logo; two original Snowy Joey bears (1987), a Snowy Joey mug, Snowy Joey puzzles, Snowy Joey underwear, a box of Snowy Joey shopping bags; and a throw (blanket) with an image of the Horne's Christmas tree on it.

    Josephine's closed in the mid to late 80's and was reopened as Max and Erma's around 1989. I wish someone had pictures of the interior of Josephine's; there's never been another restaurant as beautiful or elegant.

    During my time at Horne's, the Mezzanine held the hair salon and optical department. I remember getting my first pair of contact lenses there.

    As a kid, we were always intrigued with the floor-button "flushers" in the ladies room. I can still see those brass "buttons" on the floors in the stalls. Wonder if Highmark kept them?

    I wonder how much of the beautiful architecture of the original building was maintained when Old Navy and then Highmark moved in?

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    1. If you still have the Snowy Joey bears and the throw ( blanket) I'd be willing to buy them.

      I was an Assistant Buyer when I got out of college and even though I went into insurance, I always had a loyalty to JH Co.

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  70. I forgot to add, the store numbers were as follows: #1 Main store; #2 Great Lakes; #3 Whitehall; #4 Natrona Heights; #5 East Hills; #6 Northway; #7 Green Gate Mall; #8 South Hills Village; #9 Monroeville Mall; #10 Beaver Valley Mall; #11 Southern Park; #12 Randall Park; #13 Warehouse; #14 West Erie; #15 Millcreek; #16 Century III; #17 Westgate; #18 Ross Park Mall; #19 Severance Town Center. I looked at those numbers on purchase orders on a daily basis for years.

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  71. Going to Hornes was such a treat as a child, and I even modeled in a fashion show there. We would park across the Monongahela River and ride the "T" into town for a day of shopping... In later years we would go the the Century III store or South Hills Village store, but nothing was a special as the flagship downtown.

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  72. I remember as a child having breakfast in the Tea Room with Mr. Rogers and shopping in Santa's Secret Gift Shop for presents for my parents - with money they gave me to spend! We would drive downtown and look at the Christmas decorations in the windows after every Thanksgiving meal. Years later, my Mom was a receptionist in the Decorating Dept. on the 6th floor and I worked nights in the Auditing Dept. It was located in the building next door to Horne's, but we entered through Horne's employee entrance and walked through the store. We had to call the guard station prior to leaving to make sure the dogs weren't roaming the store before we left.

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  73. I purchased at a thrift store a black patent leather handbag that says "Joseph Horne and Co. Pittsburg" It has the most wonderful suede interior! Who would have made the bag for Horne's?

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  74. I came across this site which I hope can provide some information. My grandfather gave my mother a Baseball charm engraved 1931 JH Co. he told my mother that all the ball players received them. The team he was referring to was the Homestead grays. We think the JH Co. stands for Joseph Horne Company. Possibly a sponsor or advertiser for the 1931 Homestead grays

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  75. With luck, perhaps someone from Horne's or a Pittsburgh sports enthusiast can answer this question - I would also look at the Pittsburgh newspapers at Google News Archive and see if there is anything there to confirm your hypothesis.

    Good luck!

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  76. So happy I found this web site! I enjoyed reading everyone s wonderful memories of Joseph Horne's. My dad, Jim Clagg, was the manager of the South Hills Village store from it's opening till he died in 1989. Prior to that he worked at several of the other branch stores. My 2 brothers and I also worked at the South Hills Village store when we were teenagers. And thank you to the person that left the comment about my dad ,describing him as wonderful but no nonsense! A perfect description!

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  77. I just helped my sister clean out some of our mothers items from her home. We found a very nice pair of "The HIGBEE CO." #65 Size 6 A wooden lady's shoe forms. If interested please send me an email. mj29pa@msn.com

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  78. I am so glad son sent me the link for this site. I used to love to go downtown on the bus with my mother and later "my car" taking mom and my kids to see the Christmas window displays. Many many happy memories.

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  79. @Anonymous - your comment above from FEB, 2013. Jim Clagg was my dad. You probably knew me, too as I worked there in my younger years. I miss Hornes at SHV anytime I drive by, but we've been in Houston, TX for almost 17 years. I still miss yunz, the Stillers and dem Pyrrets.

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  80. In the early 1960's, the Joseph Horne Company sponsored a high school council consisting of male and female students from public and private schools across Allegheny County. In 1963 the entire group was invited to attend a sneak preview of the movie "Bye, Bye Birdie" and also to appear in a full page clothing ad in the Pittsburgh Press. Four boys and I were invited to model Horne's styles on Bill Cardille's Saturday teenage TV show, "Twixt Twelve and Twenty" and another handful of us worked in the young adult shops in the downtown store during August. The buyer for clothes was Jerry Wroblewski, a great fellow who could talk to teens easily and earnestly. At the end of that stint -- Saturday, August 17th -- there was a big fashion show in the 7th floor events center featuring Horne's summer and fall apparel. If anyone has a list of the high school council members for 1962-1963, please forward it to me at misterssss@yahoo.com Thanks! Dennis S

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  81. My family lived on the south side of pittsburgh but moved to Detroit in 1945. I found an old light colored fur coat from Joseph Horne Co. with the initials J.E.T. in cursive. my Aunt had it for years and I wonder if you can tell me any info on it.My email is charzblessed@yahoo.com Thanks God Bless

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  82. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Digs Blog has some interesting photos of the Joseph Horne Company in the 1970s. One photo shows the main floor men's department with the columns covered in red velvet for the holiday season.

    Its amazing that stores would put so much into display and decorating. The photos can be found here: http://pgdigs.tumblr.com

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  83. Horne's the greatest department store. Jean

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  84. I am really excited to see all of the wonderful comments about Horne's Department Store. I worked as an Assistant Buyer to the Buyer for the candy, stationary, frames, and gift items while in college. I merchandised the flagship store for these areas as well. I earned the nickname of "the candy girl" because I pushed around a cart full of candies to restock the bulk counters and the shelves around the store. What a fabulous store it was! While I worked there it seemed magical with the beautiful architecture and lovely merchandise.
    I also grew up shopping there with both of my grandmothers. While lots of people shopped at Kaufmanns, it seemed that shopping at Horne's afforded a certain level of status. I really miss it. I echo the sentiments of many if the posters in the comments above, when I say that it really saddens me to see how many beautiful department stores around the country have been closed/demolished. They are a symbol of a better time in history socially.

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  85. We used to go every year on the day after thanksgiving to buy our own, new special tree ornament and then have yes. Remember the annual fall and spring clothing buying. Most precious memory--being chosen to be one of the college board members in the mid-60s. We have lost the sense of ceremony and dignity that were part of those times and so perfectly embodied in stores like this.

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  86. Very well said, and I agree!
    - Bruce

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    1. There was a manager in the mens dept @ the downtown store his name is Nick short fat Italian guy. Does anyone know his last name?

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    2. Do you know the manger from the men’s department last name? His first name is Nick.

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  87. There was a manager in the mens dept @ the downtown store his name is Nick short fat Italian guy. Does anyone know his last name?

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    1. Nick DeDominico - great guy

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  88. i bought a yellow wool coat that has the Joseph Horne Co. label on it from an antique store. It is in prime condition. When I had it drycleaned one of the buttongs broke. Now i am looking for 3 antique brown/tannish bowled textured buttons to replace them.

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  89. I am a member of the Ben Avon Area Historical Association. The old Horne Camp is located within the communities we represent. We are looking for any old photos of the camp and would be interested in gathering recollections from people who attended the camp as children. Our historical group can be contacted at: history.benavon.org We would love to hear from you!

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  90. The Tick Tock - a casual luncheonette-- was not at Horne's but was on the mezzanine level at Kaufman's. Great baked ham sandwiches on toast with lettuce, tomato and mayonaise. yum

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  91. This is a fantastic site! Thank you for putting it together. When the downtown store was being sold, I bought one of the 4 huge plaques from the corner of the building at an auction they were having. I have enjoyed it for quite a few years and want to part with it. If there is an interest out there in owning a piece of Pittsburgh history, please contact me. This was on the building through the 1936 flood. Quite a heavy piece! jmrsdr1@yahoo.com

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  92. I am trying to reply to the woman who purchased the yellow wool coat. I am a button collector and may be able to help her. It is not letting me reply. To I have to be a member or something to reply?
    Also I use to work in display at the downtown store and I do have some stories! Don't have time now, but am glad I found this site! LOVE IT! I also have pictures of both Horne's and Kaufman's. Is there any way to post them? Thanks

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  93. Sorry, the commenting problem is endemic to Blogger. Some day, this project may move to a real web site rather than use the blogger format. That is in the future, however. You may send images (scanned at a reasonably high resolution to the email address found on this site: bakgraphics@comcast.net - Thank you,
    -Bruce

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  94. I'm looking for the original newspaper advertisements that were drawn pieces of art. Specifically, The illustrations fron the early 1980's that featured Perry Ellis and then the Christmas advertising that featured gingerbread men

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  95. Look at Google Newspaper Archive. There are two Pittsburgh papers and practically all Joseph Horne ads can be found by browsing.
    -Bruce

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  96. Does anyone remember as a child at Christmas time, Horne's used to decorate they're elevators to look like space ships. The outsides had rockets on either side of the doors and the inside of the car walls were lined with buttons, switches, and lights that you could play with as if you were in a rocket ship. the elevator operators were dressed as space men and they would do a count down before the elevator went up. They actually played rocket sounds over the inside speakers for effect. It was great.

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  97. Yes I well remember that. I was part of it. The day after Thanksgiving welcomed the Christmas Season to Pittsburgh. Horne's used the Good Ship Lollipop to bring Santa to the store. It started at 5:30 AM. The boat would be decorated with trees etc., a band would be on board and of course Santa (Ed Shauganessy from KDKA)..The boat would sail up the Allegheny, turn around and come back to the wharf. Another band would be waiting and Santa was welcomed to Horne's. After a parade, the participants would be escorted to the "Rocket Ship" elevator on the Stanwix St bank of elevators (not normally used for customers). The rocket "took off" to the 7th floor where there was Santa's village--complete with animated figures--and of course Santa (not Ed Shauganessy). It was a magical time in a beautiful store. Thank you for remembering,reminding others and appreciating our efforts. It is all sadly gone.
    Merry Christmas!
    Dick

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  98. That sounds like ti was tremendous fun, charming, and unique. The best part: it was all conceived by local people, for people, and not in some corporate office 2000 miles away. As a result, it WAS one-of-a-kind. Anyone prefer the .39 cent cardboard decorations they have at Target this year? That's all you get today.
    - Bruce

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  99. My son worked at Horne's and we have a 100 Centennial Commemorative Plate (1849 - 1949)
    We would like to sell it. If interested prains1229@comcast.net

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  100. Hello -- I am a scholar writing the "definitive" (ha) biography of Andy Warhol, who worked in the display department of Horne's in Pittsburgh in 1948. I am looking for any information I can gather about that department -- and especially its head, Lawrence (Larry) Volmer -- from the 40s and 50s. Not necessarily looking for Warhol-specific info, but for anything that could "set the scene" for his work there. I can be reached directly at Blake@BlakeGopnik.com

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  101. Thank you for creating this amazing blog about department stores. And thank you to everyone who has contributed information and memories. I, too, was born in the Burg and now live in Houston, Texas. I also still miss yunz, the Stillers and dem Pyrrets. I grew up in Swissvale on Princeton Place, a street I recently discovered still looks almost exactly the way it did in the 40s and 50s. In eighth grade, I was lucky enough to be admitted to Winchester Thurston School for Girls. In my junior year, I nagged my parents to let me get a job over the holidays so that I could buy their Christmas presents with “my” money, not their money. My mother had worked at Horne’s in the wrapping department after graduating from Swissvale High School and thought that Horne’s would be a great place for me to start my “career.” Winchester’s headmistress, Miss Philpott, was another matter. No young lady had ever worked while attending Winchester because studying for college was so time consuming and important. My parents, amazingly, decided to intervene on my behalf. We had a meeting with Miss Philpott and they insisted that they thought it was a good idea. Miss Philpott was not pleased but agreed – provided that none of my grades went down. I cannot tell you how proud I felt as I shook her hand! My mother worked her magic at Horne’s and the next thing I knew I was working at the handkerchief and glove counter on the first floor near the mezzanine. As I took my place behind the counter – still in my Winchester uniform and totally terrified – I looked up to see my parents on the mezzanine watching me and smiling big smiles. Wow! I worked in the evenings after school and on weekends during the holidays and had a lot of fun buying my family’s Christmas presents with “my” money and the store discount. Everyone at Horne’s – customers and clerks and supervisors – was so kind to me as I learned how to fit a kid glove on a lady’s hand and how to sort and display fine linen handkerchiefs from Switzerland. My mother told me once that she had been home sick on the day of the great flood of 1936 and had not tried to go in to work. She always pointed out the high-water mark on the side of the building. Oh, yes, because I was challenged by Miss Philpott to keep my grades up, I became extremely focused about my schedule and my studies – cramming for exams while standing up on streetcars, anyone? – and my grades not only stayed the same, some of them went up! After that Christmas holiday, Winchester permitted its young ladies to work after school and on weekends – with the same agreement -- that they maintain their grades.

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  102. That's a wonderful story! First of all, it is a testimonial to your parents' wisdom and innate grace and understanding of family; then to you for your hard work and understanding. Also, it is a testimonial to the great store, where it all happened. Horne's, like other great department stores, was more than a store, but a life-filled institution!
    -Bruce

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  103. What a wonderful way to begin my Monday. Last evening my Pittsburgh daughter and I had the occasion to refer to the name Josephine, and she remembered Horne's little tea room by that name, and also the Tick Tock. I reminded her that the Tick Tock was at Kaufmann's - I'd had lunch there a number of times with my Mom (a seamstress in Kaufmann's) on her lunch breaks. I'm first generation American, my Mom, my Aunt, and their parents having emigrated from Poland in the early 1900s. My Mom and my Aunt's skills with sewing machines or needle and thread were well known in the area. My Mom worked at Kaufmann's until 2 weeks befofre her passing. My Aunt retired from Horne's after more years employment than I can remember. Yes, we picnicked and swam at Camp Horne and utilized Horne's own "Ask Mr. Foster" Travel Agency on a number of occasions. My son stood in the freezing cold in a r-e-a-l-l-y l-o-n-g line to talk with Art Pallan the disc jockey who was holding court in Horne's Christmas window to benefit Children's Hospital. He felt the need to make a donation (in truth, I think he just wanted that Penguins' hockey puck that Art was distributing to donors). The last time I was in Horne's was to buy my Pittsburgh daughter's beautiful wedding dress and veil in the 1980s. I can still hear my Aunt's voice, being the detail-oriented seamstress she was, telling the salesperson, "Buttons and loops - always buttons and loops to hold up the bustle. Anything else is too risky." Memories - beautiful beautiful memories (excuse me, but I'm getting a lump in my throat).

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  104. You are giving me one, since my family came here in the early 1900s from Poland (Russian-controlled territory) and my grandmother was a wonderful seamstress, as though it was her nature. My mom sewed for us as kids, and wished she could emulate my grandmother's talent, for I was told she could take material, begin cutting, and produce any kind of garment without a pattern. It gives me warmth to hear from others with a similar heritage - though my grandparents settled in Detroit. I did have an uncle from Pittsburgh, though!
    -Bruce

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  105. I am so grateful for this site. My mother Vivien Nichols and Aunt Mary Nichols worked at Horne's 1930's and 1940's. My mother became Asst Women's Sportswear Buyer and my aunt worked in the Display) Dept. I remember she gave me one of the Teddy Bear picnic records used in the Christmas window one year. Their jobs lifted my mother and aunt (and another sister who worked at Bell Telephone out of poverty and gave them a sense of value and well being. Does anyone know what the policy for women who married was in the 1930's? My mother married in 1935, and I was born in 1942; I am wondering if she was able to keep her job, or at least A job with Hornes between 1935 and 1942. Anyone know? Thanks, Joan in Maine now.

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  106. Are there any photo's of one famous and extraordinary seamstress who worked in the alterations department in the Natrona Heights Plaza by the name of Mrs. Helen Sadowski?

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  107. About a year ago I wrote a piece for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette about notable elevators in the city. I mentioned the elevators in Joseph Horne's because they were elegant and were rumored to move by themselves at night (later confirmed....keep reading).

    After it was published, I received a letter from 86 year old John Namojski, who worked in Men's Furnishings until the store closed. And the best part is that I actually remembered him from when I purchased socks and ties over the years. A consummate gentleman and enthusiastic salesman. He loved the store.

    Anyway, he also included his phone number, and we had a glorious chat. His grandmother started at the store in the 1890s. His father also sold socks and ties, as he did.

    Above the elevator banks on each floor were 5 colored light bulbs. Sometimes they were lit. I asked him what these were. He said Mr. Horne installed them as a way to indicate to floorwalkers (which often included Mr. Horne himself) that they had a telephone call. Each supervisor was assigned a color so it would be known who had the call. The reason for the light bulbs: Mr Horne thought it would be rude and disruptive to shoppers to interrupt with a paging announcement.

    As for the elevators that ran by themselves, Mr. Nawojski confirmed that a combination of the car's weights and counterweights, plus expansion and contraction of the cables due to humidity made the cars move by themselves. He said it was spooky hearing the cars down down the shafts when no one was in the store. He also said it sent the store's guard dogs into a frenzy.

    I framed Mr. Nawojski's letter dated May 2014, which was written on Joseph Horne stationery. He stole a box of it when the store closed.

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  108. They also took over the space occupied by Halle Brothers at Severance Center (Cleveland Heights, OH) in the late 80's.

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  109. Hello,

    I am looking to obtain shopping bags/boxes from the early 90's. Email me at pghkmh2@yahoo.com if you have any available. Thanks

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  110. I remember Hornes well. Shopped there as a child with my family, graduated high school in 1975, and got a job fixing office machines right out of high school. Hornes had a copier of sorts in their downtown fashion office, it was hard to find located up a few steps in the book department. One day at work in north side WG Johnston
    Hornes called, we need our machine fixed now, theres a fashion show tomorrow. OK I am coming I was a field service tech. So they knew I was coming. Boy was I stunned, I opened the door to the fashion department to find a room full of beautiful models putting on their underwear. I believe their head model yvonne zanos was fastening her bra right in front of the door i had just opened. i said sorry, shut the door and wondered will i get fired for this? a few minutes later the door opened again, and the rather matronly secretary invited me in. I apologized, she said we normally do set up at the stanley the day before, but doing it here saves hornes $2000.00 I was young, hadnt had a girl friend yet. and was scared i would get fired. the secetary said not to worry we knew you were coming but hadnt thought about it. I have told lots of other copier techs about this, and some said i would of just entered and got to work. Now I am 58 and if it happened today it would just be amusing.

    incidently I still have my first job. transistoned away from copiers, to laminating machines. johnstons closed in the 1980s:( Time does fly.....

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  111. I recently heard that Horne's had a country compound of sorts on Camp Horne road which may have included cottages & Acord Park in Avonworth. Haven't been able to find any information on this

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  112. I was fortunate to have worked at Hornes from 1970 to 1975, where I began selling menswear at the Monroeville Mall Store and progressed through Asst. Buyer in Cosmetics, to buyer in Candy then finally to buyer in Hosiery. I remember Mr. Herb Mannion, the Cosmetics Buyer, who, to this day, I hold as my most influential mentor in what became a long and successful business career. Great merchants like Herb, Stan Hoehl and others were never replaced as retailing became more and more automated and less of an art. Hornes will be forever missed!

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  113. I think you hit the nail on the head: "More automated and less of an art." That applies to most of the stores featured in The Department Store Museum, and answers why customers were enticed to go elsewhere.
    - Bruce

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  114. I remember the store well. I went there in the 1960's when I was a student at Duquesne U. Does anyone have the recipe for the Angel Pie that was served in the tea room? I loved that pie!!!

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  115. My mother worked for Hornes and I learned recently that Hornes held their company picnic on Camp Horne Road, but do not know where, exactly.

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  116. Camp Horne is now known as Avonworth Park. It is located between Ohio River Blvd (65) and I 79.

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  117. I have an 8 x 10 framed picture/music box plays "Jingle Bells" works great. Picture signature on front Linda Barnicott c1590 "Wishing Under the Horne's Tree". Back of framed print: "Wishing under the Horne's Tree" Then: Rekindle that mystical time in the wintry life of Pittsburgh. That soft but snowy evening with the wonder and anticipation of it all. That time of wishing, dreaming, peeking through those holiday windows of your heart. Best Wishes Linda Barnicott Limited Edition Prints Available. If anyone is a "Horne's Collector" and is interested in purchasing this item from me please email me at pattym7262@gmail.com. I will be happy to forward you pictures and a video of the Music Box playing.

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  118. I grew up in Pittsburgh and have many fond memories of Saturday trips to Pittsburgh in the 1950's when mother and I wore our white gloves and went to the tea room. Horne's was my favorite store - it was a magical place to a small child, especially at Christmas with the decorated windows and Secret Santa Shop. I still have a small (2" high, 2" diam) china tea cup featuring 2 little girls wearing white caps, each sewing, and gold lettering that says "Joseph Horne Co. Dolls' Tea Party." Can anyone shed light on this?

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  119. Anonymous on April 13, 2013: I used to work during college breaks at the Horne's in Randall Park Mall. I started as a seasonal employee in the Gift Wrap station, which was tucked upstairs next to Accounting and the employee break room. After being a seasonal for a couple of years, they started moving me around as needed: housewares, the discount basement shop, Children's, candy and luggage, Fine China, Furniture, and even Jewelry for a while. I was proud when they added the red stripe along the bottom of my tag indicating I was an AP, Authorized Person, who could approve purchases and override the dash registers if needed.

    A few years passed, and Randall Park Mall started its slow slide. They shut down the escalators to the mezzanine level and phased out the Furniture department, which took up most of it. Josephine's on the Mezzanine had closed a couple years prior. The only thing they kept was the huge cascading chandelier that dropped 2 floors from the mezzanine ceiling.

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  120. I have two Horne's advertising posters that deal with the Steelers from 1979. One is a little boy kneeling down praying for a Super Bowl win and the other is a drawing of Chuck Noll. Any idea what they may be worth? I also have a cookbook put together by the employees from all the Horne's branch stores, dated 1980. I'd like to know if it would be worth anything. Thanks!

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  121. I have an unopened box of Horne's Christmas cards depicting a watercolor of the downtown store with the Christmas tree on the corner of the building.

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  122. I have a black cape with red silk linning from Joseph Horne Co Pittsburg.

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  123. Does anyone remember the Santa Belles? I remember going Christmas shopping with my dad and sister. We always went to Horne's. Dad would take us up to the mezzanine where he would hire a Santa Belle. These were college women working over the Christmas season. My dad would tell them what he wanted to buy and the Santa Belle would take us to all the departments and help us select presents for my mother. We would eat lunch in the restaurant on the ground floor. When we were done shopping, the Santa Belle would take all of the packages back to her desk. She would arrange to have everything gift wrapped and shipped to my dad's office in the city. I don't know how much this service cost but it was great. The Santa Belle was allowed to get merchandise out of display cases so we didn't have to wait for a department sales clerk to help us. This was a classy store. The Santa Belles would have been during the 1950's. By the time they were phased out, my sister and I were old enough to help dad shop without a Santa Belle.

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    1. In the mid '60s, Horne's apparently reworked the Santa Belle idea and came up the "Stag Shop". Only men were allowed into the snug back room decorated in the style of an exclusive mens' only club with subdued colors, leather covered club chairs and heavy wood tables. The shop was filled with very nice items from sparkly jewelry to fur coats. The men were offered a glass of sherry along with a tray of Christmas cookies from the first floor bake shop. I was one of the college age girls who staffed the room. We ran around the store gathering a selection of items that the gentleman shopper suggested his wife might like. Sometimes, we were asked to model the item, be it a jacket, a dress or a negligee! The shop provided us girls a few weeks of work during Christmas break. It was wonderful to become familiar with all the departments in the store and get to know the other staff. I always felt fortunate to have been a part of the Stag Shop for two seasons.

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  124. I attended the Joseph Horne Charm School around 1975. It was held for several weeks on Saturday mornings. I remember the Seventeen Magazine Teen Board that was part of it. Possibly a sponsor? Any other attendees?

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  125. I am looking for the Quiche recipes from Josephine's restaurant inside the Horne's stores. I worked at Horne's in Ohio, we used to have lunch there almost every day. The Quiches were the best!

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  126. I purchased an old wooden shipping crate marked "Jos Horne Pittsburg Pa"
    It is pre-1911 since Pittsburgh doesn't have an "h." Does anyone have any info?

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  127. I purchased a great old wooden shipping crate marked "Jos Horne Pittsburg Pa." Its pre-1911 since there is no "h" in Pittsburgh. Does anyone have any other info? thanks

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  128. In the summer of 1965, the Joseph Horne Company carved out part of the Juniors Department and created The College Shop. It was a place where college bound girls could have a personal shopper help them put together outfits for school. I was one of those personal shoppers. There were about ten of us at the downtown store. We each represented a different college in the area. I was attending West Virginia University. The theme for the shop was taken from a popular TV show at the time: The Man from Uncle. We each wore the same style outfit. A wool, black & white herringbone pant suit complimented by a black and gold striped tie and Sebago black and gold suede tie-up shoes. There was also a matching Irish-style cabbie hat that was too hot to wear under the store lights. All of us girls were required to attend a week of fashion and retail training before working on the floor. A petite woman named Lydia Sharanovich taught us all about the latest fashion trends and styles. She wore mini-dresses (think Twiggy) and low heeled baby-doll shoes. She told us that Pittsburgh was about two years behind New York in picking up the latest fashions. The retail class was actually rather difficult. I remember taking math quizzes. Sales people at the time had to work out in their heads how much change was due to a customer. The old fashion cash registers in the '60s only showed the sale total. We were also told emphatically that coins should be placed in the customer's hand first then the dollar bills. This makes it much easier for the customer to handle. (It's true. Unfortunately, sales clerks today are rarely given that advice.) My time working for the Joseph Horne Company will always be special to me. It was my first real job and the standard to which I've compared every job since. It was a gift to have worked for such a fine company in such a beautiful building...all in Pittsburgh.

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    1. Dear Jeanine, please contact me - I would love to hear more from you and conduct an interview. I am the researcher from Duquesne University and my information is at the top of the page. Thanks, Elisa M. Astorino

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  129. Whatever happened to the Men's Clothing Buyer Dick Lane ?? I worked in the Luggage Dept as Asst Buyer 72-78 before quitting late summer over low wages.
    Loved the store and its personnel, pay was way too low with long hours.

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    1. Maybe you're thinking of Dick Johns ??? great guy

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  130. Do I have this right; was there a hair salon 'Leslie & Co.' in Hornes? Anyone remember what Leslie's last name was?

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  131. I was in Pittsburgh this past week and purchased an original colored drawing in a Christmas Theme. There are details depicting the Joseph Horne Co. Logo and painting says "To Big B. from the Troops. On the back it says B. W. Roth Christmas 1964. Drawn by Marci in fashion coordination dept. (not positive that is says Marci). It is very beautiful and festive. Would love to know if anyone has more information.

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  132. Ive got an antique sewing machine that is labeled joseph horne co. It was my great grandmothers and I know nothing about it. It looks like a singer, but doesnt say singer, nor have I been able to find a matching cabinet setup...does anyone know anything about it? I have no idea when it was made, there are no serial numbers on it. I have pictures of it if anyone would like to see. It has a sewmac motor, is black with decorative scrollwork, but not as must decorative work as most singers. Its only marked joseph horne co. And the vrass plate on the side says deluxe and made in japan. No dates. Im perplexed...

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  133. This is all so wonderful to read. My great-grandfather was General Manager of Horne's in the 1930s and 40s. Although I never knew him, my grandmother never shopped at any other store and would always take me and my sister to Horne's Tearoom to meet the Easter Bunny at the Easter Brunch and Santa at some kind of Breakfast with Santa. She always stopped in the Book Department in front of the Tearoom to buy us each a book from the Children's Books. At Christmas, the toy department was turned into an absolute winter wonderland.

    I still have some jewelry boxes and gift boxes that say Joseph Horne Co in script - they were my grandmother's and I've never been able to part with that part of my family history. I also have the portrait of my great-grandfather that hung in the store on the 2nd floor. If anyone knows anything about portrait artists in Pittsburgh at that time, I'd love to know. There is no signature on the portrait.

    Someone commented earlier on the Limoges. Horne's did sell Limoges china. My great-father had a set that's been passed down. It does not say "made for the Joseph Horne Co" on it, but I have little doubt that my great-grandparents would have bought them anywhere else.

    I loved Horne's and probably owing to my connection to it, thought it was the nicest department store in Pittsburgh. It's sad that the days of those beautiful stores are gone. The closest thing to Horne's is the Saks Fifth Avenue store in New York City. I am reminded of Horne's whenever I walk into their First Floor.

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  134. My Grandmother worked at Horne's from the late 1930's thru 1962 selling kitchenettes and kitchen furniture. My great aunt work at Horne's in the telephone operators' office during the same time. One of my greatest joys was riding the bus in from Bethel with my Mum to meet my Grandma and go school clothes shopping. We would select clothes and my new Stride-Rite shoes and then pop in to say hello to my Great Aunt Mamie in the telephone room. We'd have lunch in the beautiful tea room and as everyone has said before we'd be dressed in our nicest clothes and white gloves. They never had anything but kind words to say about Mr. Burchfield and the store. After my entire family passed away in the 70's I could no longer walk into Horne's thru the revolving door on Penn Avenue directly into the hats and gloves department and not start crying when the wonderful smell of that place hit me. All thru the store not only beautiful things, but distinct smells that stayed with me for many years. I sorely miss the time that was but there will always be the memories.

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  135. tammylemley@windstream.net18 November, 2017 12:13

    I have a clock radio that looks like a book. It has on the side Radio Time then right below it shows Joseph Horne. The outside of the binding is genuine leather , all the knobs are in good shape . The clock is still in working condition . I am trying to find the value on this item . If anyone word know how to direct me . It would be of great appreciation. tammylemley@windstream.net

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  136. I have come across Christmas tree decorations that have not been used and in original box that have a tag with Joseph Horne co on it. They are old and I wanted to see if there was someone that would like them and take care of them. They are beautiful.i would love to send a picture. If you are interested to see my email is
    amy.gajan@yahoo.com please contact me if interested.

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  137. Sounds very interesting. Horne's was may favorite store and a beautiful one, especially at Christmas. I worked there a few years to hopefully carry on the tradition in the display department.
    I would be very interested in seeing your photo as I have a collection of items also.
    Thank you, Amy

    rstark123@attnet

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  138. I happened upon this site purely by accident searching for something totally unrelated. Interestingly, both my wife and I were buyers for JHC from the mid seventies until the mid eighties. JHC was THE department store in Pittsburgh. Neither Kaufman's nor Gimbels came close to the grandness of JHC. Many fond memories of the people and the place. It's nice to see that this site has comments from years ago until very recently. I've read each one and appreciate how many lives that JHC has touched over time. My memory is not what it used to be, but here are just a few names that come to mind during my time at JHC:
    Peter Burchfield - Men's GMM (he is still going strong)
    Richard Lane - Men's Clothing Buyer (best taste level on earth)
    Syl Sylvestre - Men's clothing floor manager
    Tony DeCarlos - a lifer at Horne's. Men's Buyer
    Steve Hecht - Men's Sportswear Buyer (still a friend of mine)
    Dick ? - Men's Accessory Buyer on the 1st floor
    Arnold Cory - Young Men's and Boys DMM
    Nellie Ambrose - Junior Sportswear DMM
    Stanley Hale - Women's DMM
    Zollie Toth - Store Manager (I played tennis with Zollie every week for years)
    Flo Chizer - Sales person for many, many, many years (Flo was a laugh a minute and could sell ice to the ice man)
    Kelly Bollen - DMM
    Gary (GMM) and Cheri Nixon (Buyer and DMM and still a friend of my wife)
    As (if) I think of more, I will post them.
    Thanks for maintaining this site.

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    1. The manager from the men’s department his name is Nick but I forgot his last name do you know what it is?
      Nick was a short large Italian man whose very soft spoken.

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    2. Dear sir, I would very much like to hear from you. I think you would have some very valuable information for my research and I would love to conduct an interview. My information is at the top of this page - I am the researcher from Duquesne University. Thanks, Elisa M. Astorino

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    3. Just a spelling correction...Stanley Hoehl (not Hale)..I know, because he signed thousands of purchase orders for me when I was a Buyer there jn the early 70s

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    4. Dick Johns was men's accessories on 1st floor

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    5. Men's Department Manager Nick DeDominico

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  139. Thanks for the update on a great store and the people who made it great!

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  140. The Chocolate sold in Horne's was actually Betsy Ann Chocolates but labeled under the Horne's name. Betsy Ann Chocolates is still an active company. Coming up on 80 years. It's located in West View on Horseshoe Bend. The chocolates are the same recipes that were used 80 years ago with exception to a few new items created by the Paras Family who purchased the business in 1968 from Betsy Ann Helsel, founder of Betsy Ann Chocolates. Horne's was a beautiful store. I loved going shopping there with my Mother. Classy, clean with upscale yet not over priced products. Thank you Horne's for all the great memories you have generated!

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  141. I worked at South Hills Village as store secretary for over 10 years. I made all the announcements over the intercom...Mr Clagg was our manager then. Was a great place to work..

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  142. I worked in the Downtown Pittsburgh Store in the mid to late 70's

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  143. I worked in Loss Prevention at the Horne's in Randall Park Mall, Ohio. Two of my favorite memories are the chocolate dipped strawberries. They were the best I have ever had! The other awesome memory was during Steeler vs Browns games! Every televion in the store was tuned in!
    I was 18 when I started there...remember how cool it was to learn that the first transistor radios were sold by JHC. Memories!

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    1. Pretty sure the chocolate covered strawberries came from Betsy Ann Candies in West View. it is still there.

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    2. I bit into a Betsy Ann peanut butter meltaway this evening that my
      mother gave me in an assortment of holiday sweets and my first thought was that it has to be the same candy that was sold at Horne’s when I was a kid in the 80s. My
      mom used to love to buy a piece of their candy when we went to the mall stores and she would always get me a peanut butter melt away bar. The taste and texture are unmistakable. I also read elsewhere that Betsy Ann sold their candy in Horne’s stores so I believe it was packaged under Horne’s name probably until Lazarus took over, but I never made the connection that Betsy Ann made was the same candy. It’s an ultimate throwback for me!

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    3. Yes, I was the Candy Buyer at Hornes in the early 70's....Our Chocolates were made by Betsy Ann.

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  144. My name is Jack Reybein. I worked at Northway from 1969 to 1979 in mens clothing. My dad, Ed Reybein, worked for


















    hornes from 1948 to 1988 as buyer, music center manager,divisional merchandise manager, to name a few. I need help.
    in 1974, my dad interviwed Hank Aaron right after he broke Babe Ruth's home run record. Mr. Aaron was in town for a promotion at Hornes. This was recorded on tape and sent to all the branch stores. My biggest regret when I left Hornes is that I didn't get a copy of that interview. It's probably on a beta tape(I don't think VHS was invented yet). If there is anybody out there who worked at Hornes at that time and knows where a copy exists, I would be eternally grateful for a copy. I would gladly pay for a copy or a dvd copy. Please help me! Thanks. I'll be glad to give you my e-mail address or phone number.

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    1. Dear Jack, you may want to contact the Heinz History Center since it is the repository of the existing archives of Horne's. I've consulted their holdings but offhand, I don't remember what they have in the way of video.

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  145. I worked at Horne's when John Kennedy was assinated. I opened the Optique on the mezzanine. Never forget riding the elevator after returning from lunch and hearing about the shooting in Dallas! Horne's was a great department store.



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  146. Hello, I am the researcher from Duquesne University. To all of you that have posted here, please contact me! You have some wonderful stories and information, and I would be eternally grateful if you shared it with me (if you haven't done so already).

    Also, I should clarify my request: I cannot accept artifacts (objects other than books and documents) as I do not have the facilities to store them. I am not an appraiser and I know very little about antiques. However, I would be happy to talk to you about the item and perhaps provide some historical background. I would also appreciate photos (preferably high resolution) if you would like to contribute to my research. Once again, thank you all and please do not hesitate to get in touch with me.

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    Replies
    1. Elisa,
      I have limited knowledge of Hornes, having worked the main store and Northway Mall, in the late 60's early 70's. Please contact me if interested.
      rstark123@att.net
      Dick

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    2. I have acquired a 1849 to 1949 100 years In Business Joseph Horne Co. Desk plaque paper weight with a very nice large cent wondering if anyone knows anything about it

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    3. I have acquired a 1849 to 1949 100 years In Business Joseph Horne Co. Desk plaque paper weight with a very nice large cent wondering if anyone knows anything about it

      Delete
    4. I have acquired a 1849 to 1949 100 years In Business Joseph Horne Co. Desk plaque paper weight with a very nice large cent wondering if anyone knows anything about it

      Delete
    5. I have acquired a 1849 to 1949 100 years In Business Joseph Horne Co. Desk plaque paper weight with a very nice large cent wondering if anyone knows anything about it

      Delete
    6. I have acquired a 1849 to 1949 100 years In Business Joseph Horne Co. Desk plaque paper weight with a very nice large cent wondering if anyone knows anything about it

      Delete
    7. I have acquired a 1849 to 1949 100 years In Business Joseph Horne Co. Desk plaque paper weight with a very nice large cent wondering if anyone knows anything about it

      Delete
    8. PLEASE NOTE: YOU ONLY NEED TO POST ONCE! READ THE NOTICE BELOW THAT SAYS NOTHING WILL BE POSTED UNTIL I REVIEW IT.

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  147. Hello again - I have started a Facebook page called The Joseph Horne Company History Page. Please join and check for pictures and updates!

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  148. Was The HoDot Spot something in Hornes? I have a memory of this but cant remember where in Pittsburgh itvwas

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    1. Their was a HoDot Spot at the crossroads before North Park small breakfast and lunch dinner, .believe it closed in mid 80s.

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  149. I have a coat that has this label on it. Its black fur

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  150. I still have my snowy Joey bear with 1987 on his red hat. He's a good memory of the way things used to be. I'm 78 and know some day he will go in the garbage by someone cleaning out my "junk". I hope not.

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  151. I found a old tea cup from my early youth. It says Joseph Horne Company Toy Store and was made in England. It has two bears on it. I have no idea how old it is but I am 65. Would there be any value in it. It isn't in tip top shape.

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  152. As sad as it is that Pittsburgh now has NONE of the fine department stores it had for years (the less said about what was done to Kaufmann's the better), I do have to say it is very nice that the current owners of the former Horne's building have continued the Horne's Christmas tree tradition. A note of thanks to them for continuing that - it definitely feels like home when I see that tree.

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  153. I also have a 100 year desk plaque paper weight 1849 - 1949 with the large 1 cent in it. My grandfather work their in 1949 as a manager. Will be posting it on E-bay tonight.

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  154. I was a visual.merchandiser at Monroville and Nateona Heights in the 90's.
    My favorite job ever!!#
    My boss's name was Sherry however, I can't remember how to spell her last name.
    She was awesome!

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