November 25, 2019
State Chamber Update
Sara Josepha Hale, a prominent writer and poet in the 1800’s (author of “Mary Had a Little Lamb”), was persistent in her efforts to establish a national day of thanks. According to History.com , “she lobbied state and federal officials to pass legislation creating a fixed, national day of thanks on the last Thursday of November. She believed that such a unifying measure could help ease growing tensions and divisions between the northern and southern parts of the country. Her efforts paid off: By 1854, more than 30 states and U.S. territories had a Thanksgiving celebration on the books, but Hale’s vision of a national holiday remained unfulfilled."

The origins of “Thanksgiving” go as far back as President George Washington. However, future President’s, most notably Thomas Jefferson, differed on the idea and the tradition was celebrated regionally or differently in states for decades. It wasn’t until Ms. Hale succeeded in convincing President Abraham Lincoln to make this a national holiday that Thanksgiving, as we know it, was recognized.  Here is the full story.

From all of us here at the State Chamber, we wish you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving. We have much to be grateful for, and we appreciate all that the employers, employees, entrepreneurs and job creators in our state do every day to make Delaware a great place to live, work and play. Go safely and have a wonderful holiday!  
News You Can Use
The holiday this week means we have a limited amount of business and economic data to share. On Tuesday, the Case-Shiller home price index figures for September will be released, in addition to new home sales data for October. On Wednesday, several indicators for October will be issued including durable goods orders, personal income, consumer spending, core inflation and pending home sales.
Michael J. Quaranta
President
Delaware State Chamber of Commerce
Shop local this weekend! Small Business Saturday is November 30. Head over to the New Castle Farmers Market located at the historic "Hare's Corner" intersection of Route 13 and 273. The Farmers Market traces its humble beginnings to a parking lot where farmers in pickup trucks with home-grown produce congregated on weekends in the early 1950s. Today it hosts more than 70 individual owner-operated shops.
News we're following...