tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post8923204133702496730..comments2024-03-19T02:28:22.065-05:00Comments on Pleasant Family Shopping: Wards, America's Cheapest Cash HouseDavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07788722183424550052noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-59744293898417926642009-03-29T15:24:00.000-05:002009-03-29T15:24:00.000-05:00The rise of Montgomery Ward & Co. coincided wi...<I>The rise of Montgomery Ward & Co. coincided with that of the National Grange of Husbandry, an organization dedicated to advancing the interests of the farmer. Known popularly as “the Grange”, local chapters were set up in rural areas far and near.</I><BR/><BR/>Interesting article. As an aside, I learned two bits of information. First, why Chicago has a far more attractive downtown than most of its peers. Second, I think I found out why my insurance company is called "Grange Mutual". It's amazing the number of companies which trace their roots to serving farmers, especially in the insurance business.<BR/><BR/>-DanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-21608991332180004872009-03-28T23:36:00.000-05:002009-03-28T23:36:00.000-05:00Didi - I'm glad as well! He never got credit for i...Didi - I'm glad as well! He never got credit for it in his lifetime, at least not compared to the flak he took for it.<BR/><BR/>Anonymous - Thanks. The really played catch-up throughout most of their history. Sears expanded more aggressively and much earlier, when it was a far cheaper thing to do.Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07788722183424550052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-61618111851696377382009-03-28T16:01:00.000-05:002009-03-28T16:01:00.000-05:00Very interesting. This explains why Wards seemed t...Very interesting. This explains why Wards seemed to have rather old small town stores, while playing catch-up in metropolitan areas.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-76114757730214722482009-03-26T10:49:00.000-05:002009-03-26T10:49:00.000-05:00As R.F.D. was implemented, Wards’ catalog deliveri...<I>As R.F.D. was implemented, Wards’ catalog deliveries and sales skyrocketed, provoking the ire of local country merchants, a number of whom staged “catalog burnings”, encouraging locals to toss their treasured Wards catalogs into a bonfire, something the founder took as a true validation of his company’s success</I><BR/><BR/>This is a pretty disturbing image but kind of amusing in a way. <BR/><BR/>Mr. Ward fought hard to free up space in Chicago's lakefront and I am glad he did because were it not for him it would not be free and open space.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com