Fred Morgan Kirby
(1861-1940)
Pioneer of the 5 & 10 cent store sales concept. He opened his first store in Wilkes-Barre in 1884. In 1912, he merged his 96 retail stores with F. W. Woolworth to form the vast international retail chain. A philanthropist, he made significant gifts to institutions of higher education for the study of civil rights, and gifts for public health and recreation services in northeastern Pennsylvania. He resided here from 1905 to 1940.
Marker is on South River Street near South Street, on the left.
Courtesy hmdb.org
