Old Joseph Horne Co. department store

The Joseph Horne Company building at the corner of Penn Avenue and Stanwix Street is easy to spot because of the massive, six-story electric Christmas tree that is mounted to its exterior every holiday season. This L-shaped structure, now occupied by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, served for over a century as the flagship location for one of the country's first department store chains. Founded by Joseph Horne in eighteen forty-nine, the company became a cornerstone of downtown retail life, drawing shoppers for its high-end goods and expansive, multi-department layout.