Magrane Houston
Patrick Byrne Magrane | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Channonrock, County Louth, Ireland |
| Died | 1933 |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, businessman |
| Known for | Founder of P. B. Magrane department store; president and part owner of Magrane Houston department store |
Patrick Byrne Magrane (1852–1933) was a prominent Irish-American entrepreneur active during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Born on May 17, 1852, in Channonrock, County Louth, Ireland, Magrane emigrated to the United States in 1871, around the age of eighteen or nineteen, and established residence in Lynn, Massachusetts. He began his career as a traveling salesman dealing in notions, hosiery, and related goods before founding the P. B. Magrane store in 1876, initially occupying a modest 15-foot storefront. Beyond retail, he engaged in various business ventures, ultimately becoming one of Lynn’s wealthiest citizens and an influential community figure.
In 1877, Magrane married Mary Thornton, who was also an immigrant from Ireland. Together, they had eleven children; among them was Mary, who later married Governor Martin H. Glynn of New York.
Department stores
The P. B. Magrane department store was among Lynn’s leading retail establishments, offering merchandise such as shoes,[1] draperies,[2] books,[3] and a wide range of goods typical for department stores of the period. Its advertising tagline promoted it as "The Big Store – 46 Departments".[2] The store remained independent until 1954, when it was purchased by Raymond's and converted into that company’s second branch location.[4]
Patrick Byrne Magrane also held the position of president and part owner of the Magrane Houston department store located in Boston, situated prominently at the intersection of Washington Street and Temple Place within the city’s central shopping district.[5]
Originally established in 1842 by George Turnbull and Company, the Boston store underwent several ownership changes: it became Knimouth and Company in 1854—during which time it expanded significantly—then was acquired by Hogg, Brown, and Taylor in 1858. In 1892 ownership transferred to Houston and Henderson; subsequently James A. Houston assumed sole proprietorship and lent his name to the store. In 1906, Patrick Byrne Magrane partnered with P. H. Magrane (also from Lynn and co-owner of the P. B. Magrane store) and P. A. O'Connell of Boston to purchase the establishment.[6][7] O'Connell departed shortly thereafter to become president of competitor E. T. Slattery in 1908.[8]
The business retained the James A. Houston name until 1912 before rebranding as Magrane Houston. In 1917, the company made a public commitment to continue compensating employees who enlisted for military service.[9] The store ceased operations in 1920.[10]
Magrane Houston was notably involved in a significant exclusive dealing legal dispute resolved by the United States Supreme Court in 1922: Standard Fashion Co. v. Magrane-Houston Co.[11] The case centered on an exclusive agreement with Standard Fashion to sell only its garment patterns; however, Magrane Houston began offering patterns from a competing manufacturer. Standard Fashion initiated litigation for breach of contract, while Magrane Houston argued that the exclusivity clause violated section 3 of the Clayton Antitrust Act. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Magrane Houston, determining that such exclusionary contracts substantially diminished competition within the garment pattern market.[12]
References
- ↑ "Magrane's Large Carnival Sale Event". The Shoe Retailer. November 7, 1908. p. 83. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Curtain and Upholstery Sections Overview". American Carpet and Upholstery Journal. 24 (9): 67. September 10, 1906. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
- ↑ "Advertising Flyer (Pamphlet Advertising for Juvenile Series (1913))". Henry Altemus Company. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
- ↑ Charles Boston (October 3, 2012). "Reflecting on Raymond's and Retro Boston with the Renowned James Schaye". Shopping Days In Retro Boston. Retrieved December 28, 2016.
- ↑ Albert Nelson Marquis. "Who's who in New England; a biographical dictionary of leading living men and women of the states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut online". Retrieved December 31, 2016.
- ↑ "Bostons' Furriers Industry Report". Fur Trade Review. 47: 242. January 1920. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
- ↑ "Baggage Handling Discussions and Tips". Luggage and Leather Goods: 19. August 1906. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
- ↑ Charles Boston (March 30, 2011). "A Retrospective on E.T. Slattery's – A Boston Icon from 1867 to 1957". Shopping Days In Retro Boston. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
- ↑ "A Store's Patriotic Gathering". Dry Goods Economist. 71 (3791): 4. March 3, 1917. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
- ↑ "Boston and Surrounding Areas – Updates". The Furniture World. 1 (1284): 29. January 1, 1920. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
- ↑ "STANDARD FASHION CO. v. MAGRANE-HOUSTON CO". FindLaw. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
- ↑ Christopher Brown. "Exclusive Dealing Practices". Econ 4333 Learning Modules. Arkansas State University. Retrieved December 31, 2016.