Joseph Horne Company
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 Historic Joseph Horne Company flagship location in Downtown Pittsburgh | |
| Company type | Department store |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | February 22, 1849 |
| Defunct | August 29, 1994 |
| Fate | Integrated into Lazarus or acquired by Dillard's |
| Successor | Dillard's (1994–present) Lazarus (1994–2005) Lazarus-Macy's (2003–2005) Macy's (2005–present) |
| Headquarters | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| Products | Apparel, shoes, bedding, furniture, jewelry, cosmetics, and home goods |
| Website | None |
The Joseph Horne Company, often referred to as Joseph Horne's or simply Horne's, was a regional department store chain based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Established on February 22, 1849, it stood among the nation’s earliest department stores but predominantly served the local market. The company dissolved in 1994 after merging with the Lazarus division of Federated Department Stores.
Founders
Joseph Horne (1826–1892), the founder and influential entrepreneur behind the company, moved from Bedford County to Pittsburgh to enter the retail sector. After working for Christian Yeager and F.H. Eaton stores, he purchased the business at age 23 in 1849 and founded The Joseph Horne Company. He formed partnerships with Christian B. Shea and A. P. Burchfield—families connected through marriage who became vital to the company’s leadership. His son Durbin Horne also joined the enterprise, helping drive its expansion. Joseph Horne’s guidance established a durable market position for the firm.
Christian Bernard Shea (1835–1900), Joseph Horne’s brother-in-law and co-founder, contributed significantly to both retail operations via Joseph Horne Co. and wholesale activities through Pittsburgh Dry Goods Company. Durbin Horne and Christian Shea were also members of the exclusive South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club, a notable social organization relevant in historical context but secondary to their business roles.
This family-centric leadership and executive alliance shaped the company’s strategic direction and maintained its competitive edge in regional retail for more than a century.
History
Following his acquisition of Eaton Co., Joseph Horne developed the Joseph Horne Company into a premier department store in Pittsburgh. Originally situated on Market Street, it relocated in 1871 to Mercantile Library Hall on Penn Avenue, now occupied by the O'Reilly Theater. In 1881, a new facility was constructed at Wood Street and Liberty Avenue to serve as its wholesale division headquarters. By 1891, Horne divested these wholesale operations to Pittsburgh Dry Goods Company.
The flagship location at Penn Avenue and Stanwix Street debuted on July 31, 1893; it was reconstructed twice after fires in 1897 and 1900. The six-story main structure along with a seven-story addition built in 1923 were designed by Boston-based architects Peabody and Stearns. An adjoining office building was incorporated into the store complex in 1903. This historic site remains standing with several original Horne's signs still visible, reminiscent of those seen on former competitor Kaufmann's along Smithfield Street.
In 1966, Associated Dry Goods (ADG) acquired Horne’s and expanded its footprint into suburban shopping centers throughout Pittsburgh as well as into markets in Erie, Pennsylvania and Northeast Ohio. After ADG was purchased by May Department Stores in December 1986, a local investment group bought Horne’s because May owned rival Kaufmann’s within the same city.
In 1988, Arkansas-based Dillard’s together with developer Edward J. DeBartolo Sr. sought to acquire Horne’s with plans to merge it with Dillard’s recent purchase of Ohio-based Higbee’s stores. The transaction was ultimately abandoned due to legal disputes; nevertheless, Dillard’s acquired five Ohio-based Horne’s locations as part of a settlement reached in 1992.
Federated Department Stores (now Macy’s Inc.) purchased the remaining ten stores of Horne’s in 1994, incorporating them into its Lazarus division and discontinuing all operations under the Horne’s name by August 29 that year. This marked the conclusion of a 145-year legacy in Pittsburgh retailing. Some former outlets closed by 1998 while others transitioned first to "Lazarus-Macy’s" before eventually becoming part of Kaufmann’s during Macy’s nationwide consolidation completed in 2006.
Flagship store
Situated at the intersection of Penn Avenue and Stanwix Street in downtown Pittsburgh, the Joseph Horne Company’s flagship department store comprises three connected buildings, each erected during different periods. The central structure, a six-story edifice originally designed by architect William Smith Fraser in 1893, measures by . Despite early fireproofing measures, it suffered near-total destruction from a fire in 1897. Its replacement, crafted by the Boston architectural firm Peabody and Stearns, closely mirrored the original design. Another significant fire in 1900 inflicted severe damage; however, the steel framework and walls remained largely intact.
To the east on Penn Avenue stands an adjoining building, initially a four-story office block designed by Fraser and completed in 1895. This building was integrated into the department store following the destruction of a neighboring residence by fire in 1897. Subsequently, Struthers & Hannah expanded and renovated this office building into a six-story structure in 1903. The third part of the complex, located at the rear and rising seven stories, was added between 1922 and 1923 and is also credited to Peabody and Stearns.
The flagship location boasted four entrances—two facing Stanwix Street and two on Penn Avenue—and provided approximately of retail space, ranking it as Pittsburgh’s second-largest department store. The Horne brand name remained until August 29, 1994, when it was replaced by Lazarus. Lazarus operated at this site for only one year before moving to a new location on Fifth Avenue. Oxford Development Co then purchased the property with plans to utilize the ground floor for retail while leasing upper floors to Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. In 1996, Old Navy launched a store occupying the first two levels but ceased operations there in 2003. Highmark eventually acquired the building outright and continues to use the upper floors as office space while maintaining retail tenants at street level.
In recognition of its historical significance, the complex was designated a Historic Landmark by the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation in 1982.
Horne's Tree
A prominent holiday tradition at Horne’s flagship store was the illumination of its six-story electric Christmas tree, which attracted substantial crowds to the corner of Penn Avenue and Stanwix Street. Alongside elaborate seasonal window displays, this event played a significant role in reinforcing Horne’s presence during the festive period. Today, the tree remains a feature of Pittsburgh’s annual Light Up Night, preserving the cultural heritage associated with the brand.
Legacy of Horne's
Even years after the closure of Horne’s stores, several remnants of its identity endure on the historic downtown flagship building. Bronze plaques located at the southwest corner bear the inscription "Joseph Horne Co Dry Goods Importers and Retailers." Above various entrances, friezes commemorate key dates including the company’s founding year (1849) and construction milestones (1879, 1922). Additionally, sidewalk sections embedded with Horne’s logos further emphasize the company’s longstanding influence within the local community.
Horne's in Popular Culture
The company’s cultural impact is underscored by notable associations such as artist Andy Warhol, who worked in Horne’s display department in 1947, illustrating its role as a nurturing ground for creative talent. The television series Twin Peaks incorporated a fictional Horne’s store and proprietor inspired by the real business; co-creator Mark Frost hails from Pittsburgh. Cinematic appearances include George A. Romero’s 1978 film Dawn of the Dead, which featured the Monroeville Mall location, as well as significant scenes filmed at the flagship store in the 1987 thriller Lady Beware, starring Diane Lane portraying a window designer employed there.