THE BEGINNINGS
The Chown company began its Kingston operations in 1845 with two Chown brothers operating separate businesses before merging in 1937. The family originally immigrated from Devonshire, England in 1832.
Four years after arriving in Canada, and at the age of 15 in 1836, Edwin Chown was apprenticed to learn the tinsmithing trade. He opened a hardware and tinsmithing storefront on Bagot Street, the site of the store over a century later! Arthur initially opened his operation on Princess Street, then joined Edwin in a year or two. In 1845, Edwin and Arthur opened a tin shop of their own. In 1847 they moved to new quarters and added hardware. By 1854, Arthur had developed a trade in shelf hardware and saddlery, while Edwin featured tin and copper ware and other products like stoves and ploughs. An 1885 Kingston Daily News ad:
Highlighting the Chown family's long association with Kingston business was a banner strung across the Bagot Street warehouse to mark the diamond anniversary of Canada's Confederation in 1927: "Kingston's Oldest Business House, Four Direct Generations, 1845-1927". An 1897 note from A. Chown & Co. regarding supplying 'sloop runners' from an online auction:
In 1938, the various Chown businesses merged to form a limited company - Chown Limited. Oliver Chown, though 80 years of age, was the chairman of the board, having been in the hardware business for 62 years. Douglas M. Chown was president, Alfred N. Chown vice-president. For 90 years the business was in operation and employed 70 people. Extensive alterations were made to continue up-to-date wholesale and retail business in hardware, builders' supplies, electrical, automotive and radio supplies.
Chown warehouse on Bagot Street near Queen, the current site of the Anna Lane apartments. St Paul's Anglican Church can be seen at the top left of the photo (above). Three photos posted to Vintage Kingston Facebook:
THE CHOWN STORE RISES FROM THE FLAMES
The Bagot Street store was consumed in a million-dollar conflagration fuelled by paint, ammunition, tires and varnish on August 1, 1946. The store was rebuilt in less than two years, operating from a temporary location at Brock and Montreal Streets, later a bowling alley! Only 10 business days were consumed while operations were relocated at the new store.
The new store's 272 Bagot Street main entrance, with a side entrance at 166 Princess Street - August 23, 1948. (Queen's University Archives. V25.5-4-389 George E.O. Lilley Fonds)
An undated photo posted to Vintage Kingston Facebook:
At 115 Barrack Street, near Bagot, was this Chown wholesale warehouse. A 1959 Whig ad:
The Chown Wholesale hardware business closed on December 31, 1966. The company vowed to remain in the retail, contractor and industrial supply business. For more than a century, Chown Limited had been a supplier of hardware and general stores in an area extending from Toronto the Quebec border and as far north as North Bay. Sales to dealers became a much smaller part of the company's total business, and freight costs rose while sales were static. In April, 1966 there were 65 employees dealing with the wholesale business, but by the end of November, the number dwindled to 16. In April, 1967 the firm was discussing bankruptcy measures, with three warehouses sitting empty.
In September, 1967 it became the Queen's University printing plant when the previous premises in the basement of Richardson Hall ran out of room. The loading docks are now a parking lot, and that right-hand truck is Canadian Pacific Express! (Photo above and below - photographed for use in a company brochure - Queen's University Archives. V25.5-37-361-1. George E.O. Lilley Fonds)
Chown Ltd. took over a warehouse near the CN Outer Station, with the CN Hanley Spur cutting across this photo) in 1957. The firm's second expansion in a year, as it opened a store in the Kingston Shopping Centre under Reginald Chown, a member of the firm since 1932. With a staff of nine, the retail store sold china and giftware, wallpaper and paint, and electrical supplies, before closing by 1967.
The Chown Building Centre took over a lumber operation on Bath Road across from Collins Bay Penitentiary. Formerly located on Adelaide Street, Limestone Lumber relocated to the Bath Road location. The store later became Cashway and RONA. The Chown business also extended to the Belleville Shopping Plaza and partner stores in surrounding communities!
