■ On Feb. 22, 1879, Frank Winfield Woolworth opened the Great 5 Cents Store (later Woolworth's) in Utica, New York. Originally promising that nothing would cost more than a nickel, the chain expanded over the next 50 years to 1,000 stores, but retail market changes eventually forced the last U.S. shop to permanently close in 1997.
■ On Feb. 21, 1933, Miriam A. 'Ma' Ferguson, who made history by bec…