![Gimbels’ department store looking south on Smithfield Street, Pittsburgh, early 1960s. Photo taken by Ralph McGough. [Old Family Photos]](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m11js9Uz601qakblyo1_500.jpg)
Gimbels’ department store looking south on Smithfield Street, Pittsburgh, early 1960s. Photo taken by Ralph McGough. [Old Family Photos]
Edgar Kaufmann Office, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Frank Lloyd Wright, 1937 — Bill Hedrich (via wandrlust)
Hey guys, this is as good an opportunity as any to mention and crosspost my other blog, Designs by Frank Lloyd Wright, if you might be interested. (I’ve started doing #Taliesin Tuesdays and #Fallingwater Fridays.)
![On This Day in Pittsburgh History: April 15, 1955
Pittsburgh philanthropist Edgar Kaufmann, owner of Kaufmann’s department store and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater, dies suddenly at 69. [The Pittsburgh Press]](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1wrscRL7x1qakblyo1_500.jpg)
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: April 15, 1955
Pittsburgh philanthropist Edgar Kaufmann, owner of Kaufmann’s department store and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater, dies suddenly at 69. [The Pittsburgh Press]
![Kaufmann’s Department Store, c. 1910 (via)
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: March 13, 1955
Henry Kaufmann, 94, pioneer Pittsburgh merchant and one of the four founders of Kaufmann’s Department Store, died in New York City. [Historic Pittsburgh]
Read more about Kaufmann’s life and philanthropic efforts in Pittsburgh here.](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m08camjVkL1qakblyo1_500.jpg)
Kaufmann’s Department Store, c. 1910 (via)
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: March 13, 1955
Henry Kaufmann, 94, pioneer Pittsburgh merchant and one of the four founders of Kaufmann’s Department Store, died in New York City. [Historic Pittsburgh]
Read more about Kaufmann’s life and philanthropic efforts in Pittsburgh here.
![On This Day in Pittsburgh History: February 12, 1958
Boggs & Buhl, one of Pittsburgh’s oldest department stores, announced it would go out of business after 89 years of operation. [Historic Pittsburgh]
Russell H. Boggs and Henry Buhl, Jr., opened the store in the North Side in 1869. From the Pittsburgh Senior News, by Paul S. Korol:
In 1912, after 43 years in business, the two partners decided to retire, and sold the store to the May Company of Cleveland. Customer service, merchandise quality and profitability immediately began to decline. Neither retired partner could tolerate the loss of reputation in the store that bore their names. In a decisive move, they bought it back in 1915. The partners were once again in business.In 1921 Boggs & Buhl became the focal point of a two-week manhunt headlined by newspapers across the country. The theft of $45,000 in cash and the shooting death of the assistant building superintendent outraged the community. Within two weeks, three individuals including a husband-wife team were convicted of the theft and slaying. A fourth suspect who had masterminded the robbery eluded police for 13 years until his capture in 1934. All four received long prison sentences.Boggs continued as senior partner until his death in 1922, the same year in which Henry’s wife, Louise, died. In his 70s without heirs, Henry continued to operate the store and planned for the distribution of his estate. His will included $100,000 for the Boggs & Buhl Welfare Association that benefited retired employees. Henry died in 1927. […] By 1955, the death knell was being sounded for the store, which had been waging an unsuccessful battle to retain its business and reputation. The opening of North Hills Village Shopping Centerwas a crucial blow. Surveys had shown that up to 60 percent of those shoppers had been Boggs & Buhl customers before becoming suburban shopping center patrons. Federal Street, once the heartbeat of the North Side, was giving way to businesses of lesser caliber. The store survived until 1958 before closing with the loss of 400 jobs. On May 8, 1960, demolition crews began dismantling the store. Newspapers reported that there were many tear-filled eyes when the wrecking ball struck.](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lz4v1mtjCp1qakblyo1_500.png)
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: February 12, 1958
Boggs & Buhl, one of Pittsburgh’s oldest department stores, announced it would go out of business after 89 years of operation. [Historic Pittsburgh]
Russell H. Boggs and Henry Buhl, Jr., opened the store in the North Side in 1869. From the Pittsburgh Senior News, by Paul S. Korol:
In 1912, after 43 years in business, the two partners decided to retire, and sold the store to the May Company of Cleveland. Customer service, merchandise quality and profitability immediately began to decline. Neither retired partner could tolerate the loss of reputation in the store that bore their names. In a decisive move, they bought it back in 1915. The partners were once again in business.
In 1921 Boggs & Buhl became the focal point of a two-week manhunt headlined by newspapers across the country. The theft of $45,000 in cash and the shooting death of the assistant building superintendent outraged the community. Within two weeks, three individuals including a husband-wife team were convicted of the theft and slaying. A fourth suspect who had masterminded the robbery eluded police for 13 years until his capture in 1934. All four received long prison sentences.
Boggs continued as senior partner until his death in 1922, the same year in which Henry’s wife, Louise, died. In his 70s without heirs, Henry continued to operate the store and planned for the distribution of his estate. His will included $100,000 for the Boggs & Buhl Welfare Association that benefited retired employees. Henry died in 1927. […]
By 1955, the death knell was being sounded for the store, which had been waging an unsuccessful battle to retain its business and reputation. The opening of North Hills Village Shopping Centerwas a crucial blow. Surveys had shown that up to 60 percent of those shoppers had been Boggs & Buhl customers before becoming suburban shopping center patrons. Federal Street, once the heartbeat of the North Side, was giving way to businesses of lesser caliber. The store survived until 1958 before closing with the loss of 400 jobs. On May 8, 1960, demolition crews began dismantling the store. Newspapers reported that there were many tear-filled eyes when the wrecking ball struck.
![Gimbels’ department store looking south on Smithfield Street, Pittsburgh, early 1960s. Photo taken by Ralph McGough. [Old Family Photos]](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m11js9Uz601qakblyo1_1280.jpg)
Gimbels’ department store looking south on Smithfield Street, Pittsburgh, early 1960s. Photo taken by Ralph McGough. [Old Family Photos]
Edgar Kaufmann Office, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Frank Lloyd Wright, 1937 — Bill Hedrich (via wandrlust)
Hey guys, this is as good an opportunity as any to mention and crosspost my other blog, Designs by Frank Lloyd Wright, if you might be interested. (I’ve started doing #Taliesin Tuesdays and #Fallingwater Fridays.)
![On This Day in Pittsburgh History: April 15, 1955
Pittsburgh philanthropist Edgar Kaufmann, owner of Kaufmann’s department store and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater, dies suddenly at 69. [The Pittsburgh Press]](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1wrscRL7x1qakblyo1_1280.jpg)
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: April 15, 1955
Pittsburgh philanthropist Edgar Kaufmann, owner of Kaufmann’s department store and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater, dies suddenly at 69. [The Pittsburgh Press]
![Kaufmann’s Department Store, c. 1910 (via)
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: March 13, 1955
Henry Kaufmann, 94, pioneer Pittsburgh merchant and one of the four founders of Kaufmann’s Department Store, died in New York City. [Historic Pittsburgh]
Read more about Kaufmann’s life and philanthropic efforts in Pittsburgh here.](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m08camjVkL1qakblyo1_1280.jpg)
Kaufmann’s Department Store, c. 1910 (via)
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: March 13, 1955 Henry Kaufmann, 94, pioneer Pittsburgh merchant and one of the four founders of Kaufmann’s Department Store, died in New York City. [Historic Pittsburgh] Read more about Kaufmann’s life and philanthropic efforts in Pittsburgh here.
![On This Day in Pittsburgh History: February 12, 1958
Boggs & Buhl, one of Pittsburgh’s oldest department stores, announced it would go out of business after 89 years of operation. [Historic Pittsburgh]
Russell H. Boggs and Henry Buhl, Jr., opened the store in the North Side in 1869. From the Pittsburgh Senior News, by Paul S. Korol:
In 1912, after 43 years in business, the two partners decided to retire, and sold the store to the May Company of Cleveland. Customer service, merchandise quality and profitability immediately began to decline. Neither retired partner could tolerate the loss of reputation in the store that bore their names. In a decisive move, they bought it back in 1915. The partners were once again in business.In 1921 Boggs & Buhl became the focal point of a two-week manhunt headlined by newspapers across the country. The theft of $45,000 in cash and the shooting death of the assistant building superintendent outraged the community. Within two weeks, three individuals including a husband-wife team were convicted of the theft and slaying. A fourth suspect who had masterminded the robbery eluded police for 13 years until his capture in 1934. All four received long prison sentences.Boggs continued as senior partner until his death in 1922, the same year in which Henry’s wife, Louise, died. In his 70s without heirs, Henry continued to operate the store and planned for the distribution of his estate. His will included $100,000 for the Boggs & Buhl Welfare Association that benefited retired employees. Henry died in 1927. […] By 1955, the death knell was being sounded for the store, which had been waging an unsuccessful battle to retain its business and reputation. The opening of North Hills Village Shopping Centerwas a crucial blow. Surveys had shown that up to 60 percent of those shoppers had been Boggs & Buhl customers before becoming suburban shopping center patrons. Federal Street, once the heartbeat of the North Side, was giving way to businesses of lesser caliber. The store survived until 1958 before closing with the loss of 400 jobs. On May 8, 1960, demolition crews began dismantling the store. Newspapers reported that there were many tear-filled eyes when the wrecking ball struck.](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lz4v1mtjCp1qakblyo1_1280.png)
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: February 12, 1958
Boggs & Buhl, one of Pittsburgh’s oldest department stores, announced it would go out of business after 89 years of operation. [Historic Pittsburgh]
Russell H. Boggs and Henry Buhl, Jr., opened the store in the North Side in 1869. From the Pittsburgh Senior News, by Paul S. Korol:
In 1912, after 43 years in business, the two partners decided to retire, and sold the store to the May Company of Cleveland. Customer service, merchandise quality and profitability immediately began to decline. Neither retired partner could tolerate the loss of reputation in the store that bore their names. In a decisive move, they bought it back in 1915. The partners were once again in business.
In 1921 Boggs & Buhl became the focal point of a two-week manhunt headlined by newspapers across the country. The theft of $45,000 in cash and the shooting death of the assistant building superintendent outraged the community. Within two weeks, three individuals including a husband-wife team were convicted of the theft and slaying. A fourth suspect who had masterminded the robbery eluded police for 13 years until his capture in 1934. All four received long prison sentences.
Boggs continued as senior partner until his death in 1922, the same year in which Henry’s wife, Louise, died. In his 70s without heirs, Henry continued to operate the store and planned for the distribution of his estate. His will included $100,000 for the Boggs & Buhl Welfare Association that benefited retired employees. Henry died in 1927. […]
By 1955, the death knell was being sounded for the store, which had been waging an unsuccessful battle to retain its business and reputation. The opening of North Hills Village Shopping Centerwas a crucial blow. Surveys had shown that up to 60 percent of those shoppers had been Boggs & Buhl customers before becoming suburban shopping center patrons. Federal Street, once the heartbeat of the North Side, was giving way to businesses of lesser caliber. The store survived until 1958 before closing with the loss of 400 jobs. On May 8, 1960, demolition crews began dismantling the store. Newspapers reported that there were many tear-filled eyes when the wrecking ball struck.
![Northway Mall, north of Pittsburgh (and the first indoor mall in Pennsylvania), 1960s [Flickr]](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lyfj4kh1jT1qakblyo1_1280.png)
