J. C. Penney Historic District facts for kids
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J. C. Penney Historic District
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JCPenney mother store (not the landmarked original building)
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 Location in Wyoming
Location in the United States
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| Location | J. C. Penney Ave. and S. Main St., Kemmerer, Wyoming |
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| Area | 1.2 acres (0.49 ha) |
| Built | 1902 |
| NRHP reference No. | 78002830 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | June 2, 1978 |
| Designated NHLD | June 2, 1978 |
The J. C. Penney Historic District is a special area in Kemmerer, Wyoming. It includes important buildings linked to James Cash Penney, who started the famous J.C. Penney stores. This district has the very first J. C. Penney store, called the Golden Rule Store. It also includes the house where Mr. Penney lived when he was first building his business. This whole area became a National Historic Landmark in 1978. It was recognized because Mr. Penney helped create one of the first big department store chains across the country.
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What is the J. C. Penney Historic District?
The J. C. Penney Historic District is found in downtown Kemmerer. It covers about 1.2 acres (0.5 hectares) of land. This area is where JC Penney Drive meets South Main Street.
Buildings in the District
On the southeast side of South Main Street, there are two old store buildings. The one on the right was the very first "mother store" for J. C. Penney. Both buildings have two stories. The building on the left has a classic Western "false front" roof style. The Penney store building is made of stone. It has a front made of marble and cast iron.
Across JC Penney Drive from these stores is a small park. In this park, you'll find the J. C. Penney House. This house is now a historic house museum. It's a small, one-and-a-half-story house. It has a gabled roof and wooden siding. The house was likely built around 1900. The Penney family lived there from 1902 to 1909. Mr. Penney owned the house until he passed away in 1971.
The Story of J. C. Penney Stores
James Cash Penney was born in Missouri. He started working in retail in 1895. He was a clerk in different stores that sold dry goods. Later, he became a partner with one of his bosses.
The First "Golden Rule Store"
In 1902, Mr. Penney opened his own "Golden Rule Store" in Kemmerer. This first store was on Pine Street. It quickly became too small for his growing business. So, in 1904, he moved his store. He moved it into the building that is now part of the historic district. He eventually took over the entire building.
By 1907, he had bought out his original business partners. He then opened two more stores. This was just the beginning of a huge business. J. C. Penney grew into a company with billions of dollars in sales. Other companies, like Sears, Roebuck and Montgomery Ward, later copied his success. They also built large retail chains across the country.
Today, J. C. Penney still has a store in Kemmerer. It's located a short distance from the historic district. You can find it at JC Penney Drive and Pine Avenue.
