J. C. Penney Historic District: Difference between revisions

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Coordinates: 41°47′41″N 110°32′13″W / 41.79472°N 110.53694°W / 41.79472; -110.53694
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{{short description|Historic district in Wyoming, United States}}
{{Infobox_nrhp | name =J. C. Penney Historic District
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
| nrhp_type =nhld

⚫
| image = Jcpenney-mother-store.jpg
{{Infobox NRHP
| caption = JCPenney Mother Store
| location= J. C. Penney Ave. and S. Main St., [[Kemmerer, Wyoming]]
| name = J. C. Penney Historic District
| locmapin = Wyoming
| nrhp_type = nhld
| area =
| nocat = yes
⚫
| image = Jcpenney-mother-store.jpg
⚫
| built =1902
| caption = JCPenney mother store (not the landmarked original building)
| architect= Unknown
| location = J. C. Penney Ave. and S. Main St., [[Kemmerer, Wyoming]]
| architecture= No Style Listed
| coordinates = {{coord|41|47|41|N|110|32|13|W|display=inline,title}}
| designated= [[June 02]], [[1978]]<ref name="nhlsum">{{cite web|url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=1792&ResourceType=District
| locmapin = Wyoming#USA
|title=J. C. Penney Historic District |accessdate=2008-02-29|work=National Historic Landmark summary listing|publisher=National Park Service}}</ref>
| area = {{convert|1.2|acre|ha}}
| added = [[June 02]], [[1978]]<ref name="nris">{{cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2007-01-23|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service}}</ref>
⚫
| built = {{start date|1902}}
| governing_body = Local
| designated_nrhp_type= June 2, 1978<ref name="nhlsum">{{cite web|url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=1792&ResourceType=District|title=J. C. Penney Historic District|access-date=2008-02-29|work=National Historic Landmark summary listing|publisher=National Park Service|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060615085144/http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceID=1792&resourceType=District|archive-date=2006-06-15}}</ref>
⚫
| refnum=78002830
| added = June 2, 1978<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2007a}}</ref>
⚫
| refnum = 78002830
}}
}}
'''J. C. Penney Historic District''' is a [[historic district]] in [[Kemmerer, Wyoming]] encompassing several properties associated with [[James Cash Penney]]. The district includes the '''Golden Rule Store''', the first in what became the [[J. C. Penney]] department store chain.


It was declared a [[National Historic Landmark]] in 1978.<ref name="nhlsum"/><ref name="nrhpinv2">{{citation|title={{PDFlink|[http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NHLS/Text/78002830.pdf National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: J. C. Penney Historic District]|32&nbsp;KB}}|date=June, 1977 |author=Ralph J. Christian |publisher=National Park Service}} and {{PDFlink|[http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NHLS/Photos/78002830.pdf ''Accompanying 6 photos, exteriors, from 1977'']|32&nbsp;KB}}</ref>
The '''J. C. Penney Historic District''' is a [[Historic districts in the United States|historic district]] in [[Kemmerer, Wyoming]], encompassing several properties associated with [[James Cash Penney]] (1875-1971). The district includes the '''Golden Rule Store''', the first in what became the [[J. C. Penney]] department store chain, and Penney's home during the store's early years. The district was declared a [[National Historic Landmark District]] in 1978, for Penney's role in creating one of the first national [[department store]] chains.<ref name="nhlsum"/><ref name="nrhpinv2">{{Cite journal|title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: J. C. Penney Historic District|url={{NHLS url|id=78002830}} |format=pdf|date=June 1977 |author=Ralph J. Christian |publisher=National Park Service}} and {{NHLS url|id=78002830|title=''Accompanying 6 photos, exteriors, from 1977''|photos=y}}&nbsp;{{small|(32&nbsp;KB)}}</ref>

==Description and history==
The J. C. Penney Historic District is located on the southern edge of downtown Kemmerer, encompassing about {{convert|1.2|acre|ha}} at the junction of JC Penney Drive and South Main Street. Located along the southeast side of South Main Street at this junction are two commercial buildings, of which the one on the right was the original "mother store" of the J. C. Penney department store chain. Both are two-story structures, the one on the left sporting a typical Western [[false front]] in front of a gabled roof. The Penney store building is built of stone and has a facade of marble and cast iron, with a flat roof.<ref name="nrhpinv2"/> The district originally included a third commercial building which flanked the Penney store on its right; this building has been demolished.

Across JC Penney Drive from the two commercial buildings is a small park, in which stands the [[J. C. Penney House]], now a [[historic house museum]]. It is a small 1-1/2 story frame house, with a gabled roof and clapboarded exterior. It was probably built about 1900, and was home to the Penney family from 1902 to 1909. It remained Penney's property until his death in 1971.<ref name="nrhpinv2"/>

[[James Cash Penney]], a native of [[Missouri]], began retailing in 1895 as a clerk in various [[dry goods]] retailers. Eventually taken into partnership with one of his employers, he opened the "Golden Rule Store" in Kemmerer in 1902 at a different location on Pine Street (no longer standing). The store quickly outgrew that space, and in 1904 he moved into the left side of this building, eventually taking it over. By 1907 he had bought out his original business partners, and opened two more stores. This was the start of a business empire that had more than $5 billion in sales in the 1970s. Penney's success was eventually emulated by other firms, notably the mail-order retailers [[Sears, Roebuck]] and [[Montgomery Ward]], which also eventually built nationwide retail chains.<ref name="nrhpinv2"/>

The retailer continues to operate a store in Kemmerer; it is located a short distance away from the historic district, at JC Penney Drive and Pine Avenue.

==See also==
*[[J.C. Penney House]]


==References==
==References==
Line 23: Line 36:


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/walker/walker.htm ''“Two American Entrepreneurs: Madam C. J. Walker and J.C. Penney”'', a National Park Service Teaching with Historic Places (TwHP) lesson plan]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070625080116/http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/walker/walker.htm ''“Two American Entrepreneurs: Madam C. J. Walker and J.C. Penney”'', a National Park Service Teaching with Historic Places (TwHP) lesson plan]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110615180149/http://wyoshpo.state.wy.us/NationalRegister/Site.aspx?ID=260 J.C. Penney Historic District National Historic Landmark] at the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office

{{Wyoming-NRHP-stub}}


{{J. C. Penney Co., Inc.}}
{{J. C. Penney Co., Inc.}}
{{NRHP in Lincoln County, Wyoming}}
{{Registered Historic Places}}


[[Category:Commercial buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Wyoming]]
[[Category:National Historic Landmarks in Wyoming]]
[[Category:National Historic Landmarks in Wyoming]]
[[Category:Lincoln County, Wyoming]]
[[Category:Geography of Lincoln County, Wyoming]]
[[Category:Department stores on the National Register of Historic Places]]
[[Category:JCPenney]]
[[Category:Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Wyoming]]
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Lincoln County, Wyoming]]

Latest revision as of 12:03, 13 April 2024

J. C. Penney Historic District
JCPenney mother store (not the landmarked original building)
J. C. Penney Historic District is located in Wyoming
J. C. Penney Historic District
J. C. Penney Historic District is located in the United States
J. C. Penney Historic District
LocationJ. C. Penney Ave. and S. Main St., Kemmerer, Wyoming
Coordinates41°47′41″N 110°32′13″W / 41.79472°N 110.53694°W / 41.79472; -110.53694
Area1.2 acres (0.49 ha)
Built1902 (1902)
NRHP reference No.78002830
Significant dates
Added to NRHPJune 2, 1978[1]
Designated NHLDJune 2, 1978[2]

The J. C. Penney Historic District is a historic district in Kemmerer, Wyoming, encompassing several properties associated with James Cash Penney (1875-1971). The district includes the Golden Rule Store, the first in what became the J. C. Penney department store chain, and Penney's home during the store's early years. The district was declared a National Historic Landmark District in 1978, for Penney's role in creating one of the first national department store chains.[2][3]

Description and history[edit]

The J. C. Penney Historic District is located on the southern edge of downtown Kemmerer, encompassing about 1.2 acres (0.49 ha) at the junction of JC Penney Drive and South Main Street. Located along the southeast side of South Main Street at this junction are two commercial buildings, of which the one on the right was the original "mother store" of the J. C. Penney department store chain. Both are two-story structures, the one on the left sporting a typical Western false front in front of a gabled roof. The Penney store building is built of stone and has a facade of marble and cast iron, with a flat roof.[3] The district originally included a third commercial building which flanked the Penney store on its right; this building has been demolished.

Across JC Penney Drive from the two commercial buildings is a small park, in which stands the J. C. Penney House, now a historic house museum. It is a small 1-1/2 story frame house, with a gabled roof and clapboarded exterior. It was probably built about 1900, and was home to the Penney family from 1902 to 1909. It remained Penney's property until his death in 1971.[3]

James Cash Penney, a native of Missouri, began retailing in 1895 as a clerk in various dry goods retailers. Eventually taken into partnership with one of his employers, he opened the "Golden Rule Store" in Kemmerer in 1902 at a different location on Pine Street (no longer standing). The store quickly outgrew that space, and in 1904 he moved into the left side of this building, eventually taking it over. By 1907 he had bought out his original business partners, and opened two more stores. This was the start of a business empire that had more than $5 billion in sales in the 1970s. Penney's success was eventually emulated by other firms, notably the mail-order retailers Sears, Roebuck and Montgomery Ward, which also eventually built nationwide retail chains.[3]

The retailer continues to operate a store in Kemmerer; it is located a short distance away from the historic district, at JC Penney Drive and Pine Avenue.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  2. ^ a b "J. C. Penney Historic District". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on June 15, 2006. Retrieved February 29, 2008.
  3. ^ a b c d Ralph J. Christian (June 1977). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: J. C. Penney Historic District" (pdf). National Park Service. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help) and Accompanying 6 photos, exteriors, from 1977 (32 KB)

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=J._C._Penney_Historic_District&oldid=1218720467"