This Thanksgiving morning I want to express my sincere thanks all who have viewed, listened, and supported Historical Light. This project become official in 2016 but the truth is I drug my feet for some time prior to that of launching the show out of fear and doubt. The Historical Light Masonic Podcast has grown and evolved in ways I would have never imagined and has provided me a place in Masonry that I always enjoy even with other aspects can sometimes seem bleak. Your support has and continues to mean the world. Thank you.
Furthermore, as I sit her in a manner of tradition and await the start of the Macy Day Parade as I have since a child, we often loose sight of the namesake of things. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is an annual parade in New York City presented by the U.S.-based department store chain Macy’s. The Parade first took place in 1924, tying it for the second-oldest Thanksgiving parade in the United States with America’s Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit (with both parades being four years younger than Philadelphia’s Thanksgiving Day Parade). The three-hour parade is held in Manhattan, ending outside Macy’s Herald Square.
The name sake for the parade is the founder of the Macy’s department store, Rowland Hussey Macy.
Rowland Hussey Macy is one of the most successful businessmen in American history. He founded the Macy’s department store chain, which is now one of the largest retailers in the world. Macy’s has been credited with revolutionizing the retail industry, and its success story is a testament to the power of hard work and determination. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the life of Rowland Hussey Macy, from his humble beginnings in Nantucket to his eventual success as a retail giant.
Rowland Hussey Macy was born in 1822 on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts. His family were Quakers who had emigrated from England in 1635. Macy’s father was a whaler, and young Rowland often went out on whale-hunting expeditions with him. These experiences instilled in Macy a love of adventure and a strong work ethic. When he was just 15 years old, Macy left Nantucket to seek his fortunes elsewhere. He first worked as a cabin boy on a sailing ship, and then as a clerk in a fancy Boston store. Neither of these jobs was to his liking, so he decided to strike out on his own.
In 1844, Macy opened his own dry goods store in New York City. The store was an instant success, due in part to Macy’s innovative pricing strategy. He was one of the first retailers to offer discounts for cash payments, and he also offered interest-free credit to customers who couldn’t afford to pay upfront. These competitive pricing strategies helped Macy’s become one of the most popular stores in New York City. The business continued to grow, and by 1858 Macy had opened two more stores in Brooklyn and Philadelphia. He also began expanding into other areas of retail, such as furniture and jewelry.
Macy is one of the most successful businessmen in American history. He built Macy’s from a small dry goods store into a massive retail empire that spans the globe. His life is an inspiring example of what can be accomplished through hard work and determination. If you ever find yourself feeling discouraged, remember the story of Rowland Hussey Macy—anything is possible if you set your mind to it!
Brother Macy joined the Merrimack Masonic Lodge in Massachusetts on November 9th, 1852.