PENNEY FARMS — It was 1902 when business mogul James Cash Penney opened his first department store in Kemmerer, Wyoming. For over 65 years, Penney worked to establish what became a retail empire, …
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PENNEY FARMS — It was 1902 when business mogul James Cash Penney opened his first department store in Kemmerer, Wyoming.
For over 65 years, Penney worked to establish what became a retail empire, spawning 656 JCPenney branches across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, each hosting a slew of loyal employees, managers and customers that made the business what it was.
On Wednesday, May 14, three individuals who formerly managed his namesake, made the trip to Penney Retirement Community, to once again step foot on grounds that have Penney's spirit all over it.
Retired JCPenney department managers Clara Miller, John Gresham and Jack Clancy toured the land for the first time with entrancement. Miller worked with the JCPenney Company for 35 years, Gresham for 43 years and Clancy for 38 years. Clancy was also the manager of the Orange Park branch.
The group is preparing to return to the community next April for a special gathering with other former managers and employees of the company.
With the guidance of Penney Retirement Community President and CEO Teresa Scott, the alumni greeted longtime and hardworking community members and visited landmarks throughout the day. They all shared in their joy of being a part of Penney’s well-kept legacy.
In between his years of running his growing business, in 1922, Penney purchased 120,000 acres of Clay County farmland, which would eventually become the Town of Penney Farms.
Penney later founded the retirement community as a way to support pastors, missionaries and YMCA workers – recognizing the challenges often faced by retirees.
The group’s visit included lunch at the new Golden Rule Dining Room, tours of Penney Memorial Church, the Penney Retirement Community Hub, the Town of Penney Farms Historical Museum, The Pavillion for Health Care and resident gems including the Penney Train Club and Mobility Worldwide Penney Farms – a Personal Energy Transportation center where community volunteers craft three-wheeled, hand-powered vehicles for those in need around the world.
