The right idea at the Right House time

Hamilton’s first department store with a staggering list of firsts, opened in 1893

Originally located on James Street North, the Right House moved to King Street East in 1875.

A new four-storey brick building was completed in 1893 at a cost of $100,000. At that time it was the tallest building in Hamilton and became Hamilton’s first modern department store.

Before the Right House, there were no modern department stores containing a wide range of products. There were dry goods stores, clothing stores, hardware stores and other specialized emporiums. The Right House brought it all together under one roof to make for one-stop shopping for its customers. It was the first commercial building to have an elevator for customers.

After a 108-year run, the Right House closed in 1983.

Right House firsts:

> First to employ female clerks. “It was a fortunate and profitable innovation, as the novelty of being served by a lady behind the counter at once attracted an unusual custom to the store.”

> First in Hamilton to install the overhead cash-carrying system, and first to introduce the pneumatic tube system for making change and authorizing charges.

> First private telephone exchange connecting all store departments.

> First large advertisement ever published in a Hamilton newspaper was a seven-page Right House advertisement announcing the news of a big storewide sale.

> First to install a readers’ club library.

> First to stage a fashion show with live models.

> First department store in Hamilton to adopt the policy of selling all home furnishings on a gradual-payment basis.

> First to establish a guarantee: “Goods satisfactory or your money refunded.”

> First to introduce a suburban delivery system.

> First department store to establish a charge account system.

> First to establish the policy of selling goods at one price: “Goods marked in plain figures and sold at one price only.”

The Right House, King Street East and Hughson Street North on Oct. 18, 1960.