hudsons

hundredth

1881-1981

—

hudsoris

hundredth

1881-1981

Joseph L. Hudson, Jr.
Chairman

Dear Friends:

It Isn't often that a store can boast a
legacy of one hundred years of service to
several generations of customers, Our Centen-
nial in 1981 is an accomplishment of which we
are deeply proud.

Our continuing success over these ten
decades ho$ been measured by dedicated
employees, faithful customers, dependable
suppliers and a reputation for credibility.

i am sure that when my great uncle,

Joseph Lowthlan Hudson, opened his small
Detroit store in 1881 he never dreamed that his
innovative merchandising ideas and commun-
ity philanthropy would endure into a second
century and expand Into nineteen "Hudson's"
located throughout Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana.

All of us at The J.L, Hudson Company owe
much to our founder's leadership, determina-
tion and foresight. His doctrines of integrity and
civic Involvement are as important to our
organization today as they were in his era,

As we begin our second hundred years, we
are excited about what the future holds for
our dynamic company, Please join us in our
celebration of this milestone,

Sincerely,

Joseph Lowthion Hudson,
founder

C)ne hundred years, A mere ten decodes, A
fleeting moment In the vest scheme of things.

A time to see the world change Immeasurably,
One hundred years ago. The J.L Hudson Co.
was conceived as but a dream for a young
man with incredible foresight, Imagine what
Joseph Lowthlan Hudson must have perceived

In Detroit In

Joseph L, Hudson opened his first
store in the Detroit Opera House
on the Campus Martius In 1861,

With 20 years of working experience
already behind him, and a remarkable
$60,000 saved from his labors, Joseph L
Hudson opened a small men's and boys'
haberdashery on April 2. 1681 In the old Detroit
Opero House, He was 36 years old. Not one,
but three band concerts entertained the
opening day customers, and statements of

“Not o dollar's worth of old stock" were cer-
tainly a challenge to his neighboring com-
petitors, In just ten years, he achieved such
success that Hudson was able to build whot he
called the “Big Store", on eight-story full-line
extravaganza on the corner of Gratiot and
Farmer Street (part of the present site of our
Downtown store).

Hudson's grand opening announcement
from the Detroit Free Press, April 1 1861

J.L. Hudson built his first “Big Store"

at the corner of Former and Gratiot In 1891,

T his was the second tallest building in Detroit
and considered to be "too far uptown" for the
200,000 Detroiters to reach. But come they
did, In everything from private carriages to
bicycles. To J.L. Hudson, It was the culmination
of everything for which he had worked so
hard, Quality merchandise, large assortments

and service were his standards. It Is interesting
to point out that he was one of the first mer-
chants to indicate prices on his goods. Up to
this time, dealer and customer would each
name his price until a compromise could be
reached. He established a comparison depart-
ment and even had a horse-drawn delivery
truck make the rounds of Detroit, While these
seem like small points to us now, it was steps
like these that made The J,L Hudson Co. so
popular and successful,

1$85: View of Campus Martlus, with

The J.L. Hudson Co. In the Detroit Opera House

Unfortunately, the 1890's were troublesome
years. Banks were closing everywhere and
Hudson himself suffered a great personal loss
trying to save them. The retailer even cut his
own salary to that of a delivery wagon driver.
During these difficult years, Hudson was forced
to ask for an extension of credit from his sup-
pliers. This was something he hadn't had to do
since his father's retail business went into
bankruptcy 20 years before in Ionia, Michigan.
At that time young Joe Hudson made settle-
ment of the debts at 60 cents on the dollar.
But the young merchant was not satisfied
simply to comply with the legal terms of the

settlement. When he was able, Hudson not only
paid everyone the other 40 cents on the
dollar, but also the compounded interest due
them, This made business history, assuring Hud-
son an unlimited letter of credit for the rest of
his life, Now in 1896, when his business
needed credit, he was extended everything
that was requested and more,

1891: Hudson's new 8 story Sig Store as seen from
the corner of Grand River and Farmer.

Although the company's sales did not grow
during- the 1890's, Hudson was not one to be
discouraged. He continued to expand, As soon
as conditions Improved, an eight story addition
Just north of his original “Big Store" was built In
1907, Four years later In October of 1911,
another ten story addition on the Woodward
Avenue side of the black was erected,

in 1911, the original store was enlarged to include
the first unit of the present Woodward Ave. building.

In July of 1912, on his first trip home to his birth-
place In England, J.L Hudson died. He left a
remarkable business legacy behind, but was
probably most remembered at the time for his
personal generosity and civic mindedness, A
self-demanding businessman, he gave thou-
sands of dollars to charity. His response to the
needy was as instant as It was generous. Of
special Importance, the merchant helped
blaze the trail for what we know today as the
United Foundation, He also contributed per-
sonal time and financial support to Harper
Hospital and helped to build the Downtown
YMCA.

WEBBER BROTHERS CARRY ON

Sin

>ince J.L. Hudson never married, he looked to
his sister, Mary Eleanor Webber, for prospective
successors to his business. He started early
grooming of her sons, Richard, twins Joseph
and James, and Oscar to carry on the family
tradition. At the time of Hudson's death,

Richard, the oldest, had been working with his
uncle as a full-time assistant for 14 years, begin-
ning when he was 19 years old, in turn, each of
the brothers was indoctrinated in their uncle's
merchandising philosophy and given more and
more responsibility. When, In 1912, they were
suddenly faced with the full responsibility of
running the business, they had, among them,
performed every job in the store. The heirs had
confidence, competence and energy to build
for the future, Detroit was now a rapidly
growing city. Two fifths of the population look'
ed to the automotive Industry for jobs, The

assembly lines af Detroit were producing
engines, machine tools, car bodies and wheels
In great abundance, Skyscrapers dotted the
downtown scene. The economic climate for
progress appeared favorable. When In 1914,
Henry Ford announced his $5 a day minimum
wage policy, the Webbers realized Detroit
would become a dynamic, industrial hub, not

tenrifli ill thtnir unrle hnH known

Mr. Hudson's four nephews, the Webber brothers,
took over the company at the time of his death
in 1912, Here, a rare photo commemorating their
combined service to the company of 205 years
taken in the 1950 J s, Left to right, Oscar,

Richard, Joseph and James,

T he brothers responded by putting all their
energies Into creating a strong foundation for
the emerging retail giant. Oscar, the youngest
of the brothers, came up with the Idea of a
basement store,, “a store within a store", which
would actually become the upstairs store's big-
gest competitor. Its first year's sales In 1914
reached almost a million dollars,

wagon to this handsome group in the early 20's,

Hudson's fleet of delivery trucks
grew from Its first horse-drawn

The Webbers kept expanding the building
and didn't stop until 1928 when Hudson's "Big
Store" had become the Greater Hudson Store.
It covered almost an entire city block. When
the Depression of the 30's hit Detroit and the
sales volume dropped to less than half Its 1929
peak, the brothers wondered If they hadn't
overbuilt,

While the Depression affected every
business In Detroit, The J,L Hudson Co.
persevered, utilizing this period for the develop-
ment of new Ideas and concepts which would
serve the store well In the better times ahead,

In the tradition of the founder, the company
had already taken some novel steps in forming
its ties with the community, On Armistice Day In
1923, the J,L, Hudson Co. saluted the veterans
of Detroit by unfurling the world's largest flag.
An Incredible 230 feet long and weighing 900
pounds, It was the first of two huge flags to
grace the store annually until Its retirement to
the Smithsonian Institute in 1976.

1927: Hudson's
mode a big step
In buying the
Newcomb-
Endlcott Co. on
the corner, Later
this building was
demolished and
replaced by a
16-story addition
with a tower
reaching 24
stories.

Hudson's big flag was first unfurled
on Armistice Day, 1923.

It was 230 ft. long and weighed 900 lbs.

T he J.L Hudson Co, initiated the annual
Thanksgiving Day parade in 1925. which
brought Santa Claus through the streets of
Downtown Detroit. The first parade floats were
horse-drawn milk wagons covered with papier
rrtache, but none the less, enthralling to the
children who came to watch.

The first Santa Claus parade took place on
Thanksgiving Day, 1925.
The floats were horse-drawn milk wagons.

W hen World War II was over, and another 12
story addition completed the block-area struc-
ture at the corner of Gratiot and Woodward,
the massive edifice boasted over 40 acres of
floor space and employed 12,000 people,

1946: a final 12
story addition was
made to the cor-
ner of Woodward
and Gratiot,
making Hudson's a
full block square.

It became evident however, in the early
1950's with the ever increasing population shift
to the suburbs that the company would need
to keep on growing, This was a decision that
would not only change the profile of the sur-
rounding Detroit area, but the way of living
and shopping oil across America.

Convinced that good competition was
healthy for business, the Webbers set about to
plan an entire community of neighboring
stores. Thus. Northland Center was born in 1954,
the largest regional shopping center in the
country. It set the standard for shopping center
development In the United States. Three years
later, Eastland Center was opened. The
Webbers had the foresight to take a small,
prospering business in 1912 and expand it until It
was so large, not even the founder, J.L. Hudson
would have recognized it,

When Northland Shopping Center opened In 1954,
It was the largest regional shopping
complex In the country,

Upon the premature death of their only Im-
mediate heir, James B. Webber. Jr„ the
Webbers looked to their uncle's namesake,
Joseph L Hudson, Jr, for their successor,

Joseph L. Hudson, Jr„ had also grown up in this
retailing family. His grandfather, William Hudson
(J.L, Hudson's younger brother) had taken over
the management of Hudson's first out-of-town
stores in St, Paul and Buffalo. Other stores had
been opened In $t. Louis, Cleveland and
Toledo, The only store that prospered was the
Buffalo operation, which later was headed by

William's son, J.L. Hudson, II, until it was sold In
the 1930's.

Joseph L, Hudson
Jr, was named
president of
Hudson's in 1961, at
the age of only 29.

V oung Hudson cam© to Detroit as a summer-
time trainee starting first on the receiving dock
at Hudson's In 1950. Eleven years later In 1961
and at the age of only 29, he succeeded
Oscar Webber as President of the J.L Hudson
Company, Thus began another era of growth
for this company. More stores were added to
the rapidly growing chain. Pontiac Mall in 1962,
Westland In 1966 and Oakland Mall In 1966,

Hudson's has celebrated the 4th of July
with a big bang every year since 1959

T hen in 1969, J.L, Hudson. Jr,, took o significant
step toward building for the future by merging
the store with the Dayton Corporation, to form
a nationwide retailing organization. Hudson's
accelerated Its expansion. In 1970 came
Southland. Then Hudson's moved outside the
metropolitan Detroit area, first to Flint In 1970,
then. In 1971 to Toledo, Ohio, Next Ann Arbor,
then Grand Rapids, Fairlane, Saginaw and
Twelve Oaks. In 1978 came Lakeside, followed

by Lansing In 1979. South Bend, Indiana, and
finally, Kalamazoo in 1980, In this, Hudson's
100th year, the company's 19th store will open
In Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Everyone knows the real Santa Claus resides
at Hudson's from Thanksgiving until Christmas,

This Is but a capsule of the growth of one
company. It is also meant as a tribute to the
people who hove made it possible, the
employees, customers and suppliers who have
together enabled the J.L Hudson Company to
become an Integral part of the Dayton-Hudson
Corporation, the 7th largest non-food retailer In
the country.

No matter how the world has changed In
the past lOO years, we still draw from our
founder's adherence to Integrity and high
standards of credibility. Our company con-
tinues to uphold his civic Interest by pledging
5% of our pre-tax profit each year to the
cultural and community needs of the markets
we serve.

The "Big Store" as It looks today.

All of us at Hudson's eagerly look forward to
our second hundred years, May they be as
grand as the first,

Designed and written by
Hudson's Advertising Department
In recognition of our Centennial
Copyright, The J,L Hudson Company, 1960