R. H. Stearns and Company

In 1847, Richard H. Stearns opened a one-room shop at 369 Washington Street, next to the Adams House, where he sold yard goods, whalebone and thread.

The store is furnished in ash, the counters having cherry tops, and every department is connected with the cashier's desk by means of the Lamson cash railway.

The store is lighted exclusively by electric light—both arc and incandescent,—the Thomson-Houston system being used.The sales inventory had expanded beyond whalebone and thread.

In 1886 the store stocked fans and fancy goods, stationery, laces and handkerchiefs, dress trimmings, buttons, sewing supplies, parasols, bustles and corsets, shawls, infants' clothing, supplies for art embroidery and upholstery, baskets, and "medium and high grade household goods"—linens, blankets and quilts.

In 1908 Stearns decided to raze the old remodeled temple and construct a new eleven-story emporium designed by the Boston firm Parker, Thomas & Rice.