Fonds F1 - Chown Wholesale Hardware Limited fonds

The name of Chown has been identified with the hardware business in Kingston, Ontario for over a hundred years. In the 1830's, Edwin, George and Arthur Chown learned the tinsmith trade. Edwin and Arthur opened a tin shop in 1845. Two years later they moved to larger quarters and added hardware to their line. During the 1850's Edwin became a partner in Eagle Foundry and sold stoves, ploughs and other agricultural implements along with tin and copper ware. Arthur , in the meantime, dealt in shelf hardware. Towards the end of the fifties Edwin Chown formed a partnership with Henry Cunningham as wholesale and retail hardware merchants. Arthur together with his brother Samuel also was engaged in this line. Samuel eventually established his own business, while Arthur, during the 1880's, took his sons Fred and Oliver into partnership under the name of A. Chown and Company. Chown and Cunningham by then was known as Edwin Chown & Son. In 1938 the various family interests were merged into a Limited Company and operated until 1967.