Flint & Kent was an upscale department store based in

Buffalo, New York Buffalo is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of New York (behind only New York City) and the seat of Erie County. It is at the eastern end of Lake Erie, at the head of the Niagara River, and is across the Canadian border from South ...

History

It had its roots in a dry good store that opened in 1832 by Benjamin Fitch (1802–1883) at 288 Main Street, Buffalo. In 1836, the store was called Fitch, Marvin & Co., then Fitch & Marvin — the second name reflecting Fitch's partner, Eurotas Marvin (1810–1887) On February 17, 1865, the owners — (i) Ethan Howe Howard (1812–1898), (ii) Joshua Mortimer Whitcomb (1821–1897), and (iii) William Bradford Flint (1826–1887), operating as co-partnership under the name Howard, Whitcomb & Co. — dissolved their partnership and sold their interest to a newly formed co-partnership of (a) William Bradford Flint, (b) Henry Mellen Kent (1823–1894), and (c) R.P. Stone, operating as a co-partnership under the name Flint, Kent & Stone. On October 25, 1866, Stone sold his interest to Henry Cogswell Howard (Ethan Howard's son; 1847–1913) and the firm henceforth was known as Flint, Kent & Howard. The eventually became known as Flint & Kent."Howard, Whitcomb & Co." becomes "Flint, Kent & Stone" (paid announcement), ''The Buffalo Commercial Advertiser,'' Vol. 31, No. 11433, February 18, 1865, p. 3, col. 8; In 1856 William Bradford Flint (1826–1887) joined the company, followed by Henry Mellen Kent ''(né'' Henry Mellen Kent; 1823–1894) in 1865, the store became known as Flint, Kent & Stone – and eventually just Flint & Kent. In 1897, Flint & Kent moved its flagship store from 554 Main Street to a building that was designed by

Edward Austin Kent Edward Austin Kent (February 19, 1854 – April 15, 1912) was a prominent architect in Buffalo, New York. He died in the sinking of the RMS ''Titanic'' and was seen helping women and children into the lifeboats. Biography Edward Austin Kent wa ...

, Henry Kent's son and noted Buffalo architect who died in 1912 as a passenger aboard the ''

RMS Titanic RMS ''Titanic'' was a British passenger liner, operated by the White Star Line, which sank in the North Atlantic Ocean on 15 April 1912 after striking an iceberg during her maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to New York City, United ...

''.

Sale

In 1954, the company was sold to "Jack" Hahn ''(né'' Charles John Hahn, Jr.; 1927–2014), whose father owned Sattler's. The company was sold in 1956, to

The Sample The Sample, also known as The Sample Dress Shop or The Sample Shop, was a family-owned, high end department store specializing in upscale ladies clothing and furnishings based in Buffalo, New York. The original store was established by Anne W. B ...

. Jack Hahn, a Buffalo native and 1949 alumnus of

Princeton University Princeton University is a private university, private research university in Princeton, New Jersey. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the List of Colonial Colleges, fourth-oldest ins ...

, sold the company in 1956 to

and went on to

Harvard Law School Harvard Law School (Harvard Law or HLS) is the law school of Harvard University, a private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest continuously operating law school in the United States. Each class ...

, graduating in 1960.

References

;Notes ;Sources *Rizzo, Michael F. (2007) ''Nine Nine Eight: The Glory Days of Buffalo Shopping'' Lulu Enterprises, Inc.; Morrisville, North Carolina. . *Elvins, Sarah (2004). ''Sales & Celebrations: Retailing and Regional Identity in Western New York State, 1920-1940.'' .

External links

Flint & Kent Department Store, 1945Flint & Kent Department Store at PreservationReady
{{DEFAULTSORT:Flint and Kent Defunct retail companies of the United States Companies based in Buffalo, New York Retail companies established in 1832 American companies established in 1832 1832 establishments in New York (state) Retail companies disestablished in 1956 1956 disestablishments in New York (state) American companies disestablished in 1956

History

Sale

See also

References

External links