Golden Rule Store - 531 North Front Street

This building was originally stone and housed the Golden Rule Mercantile Company by 1903. The store’s name was the owners’ public commitment to treat customers the way they would want to be treated. W.F. Partin was a partner and the proprietor of the Rock Springs store, the second store in the chain. J.C. Penney bought out his partners in 1913, and by 1941 opened the 1600th store. An average of one new store opened every 10 days for 40 years. When the Golden Rule Store closed, free merchandise was thrown from the upper-level windows to the crowd below.