Thomas A. H. Hay, was born in Easton, July 1, 1855. He began his education in the city schools, graduating from the high school at the age of seventeen, and then entering Lafayette College, from which he graduated in 1876, the year of his attaining his majority. He began his business career as an errand boy in his father's store and was advanced as his merit deserved. In 1879, in company with Russell B. Harrison, son of President Harrison, he went to Montana, and was shortly afterwards appointed assistant superintendent of the United States assay office in that territory. He was so engaged until 1881, when he returned to Easton to become manager of the Jacob Hay & Sons wholesale dry goods business, a position which he filled with entire capability until 1896, two years after the death of his father. After closing up the affairs of the firm he joined his brother, William O. Hay, in the boot and shoe business. In 1889 Mr. Hay, at the personal request of President and Mrs. Harrison, was appointed United States postage stamp agent at New York city, and in this capacity from 1889 to 1893 he had the supervision of the postage stamp manufacturing by the American Bank Note Company. It was his distinction to suggest the Columbian postage stamp to commemorate the World's Fair in Chicago in 1893, and he suggested the ideas and de-signs of that beautiful work of art which commanded the admiring attention of philatelists the world over. He was also the author of the substitution of carmine ink for green in the printing of stamps of a certain denomination; thus putting a stop to stamp-washing, and saving large sums to the government. This idea of color of his has been adopted by the International Postal Union and is used by all the civilized nations of the world today. On retiring from government service Mr. Hay identified himself more closely with the local interests of Easton, and engaged in various undertakings which he forwarded to complete success, notably the electric railway and lighting system, of which he was the pioneer, and which became of enormous value and commensurate advantage to the community. In 1896 he organized the Easton Power Company, of which he became president, with his brother, William O. Hay, as secretary and treasurer. They took the old abandoned cotton mills and developed the waterpower by the use of modern turbine wheels. This property was subsequently consolidated with that of the old Edison Company. In 1897, with Boston capital (home capital being unobtainable") was built the first interurban trolley road in the county, that from Easton to Bethlehem. In 1898, with his brother, William O. Hay, and M. P. McGrath, of Worchester, Massachusetts, Mr. Hay organized a company and built the State belt road from Nazareth to Bangor, and in the same year he began the construction of the Easton and Nazareth line, which was completed in 1901. In the latter year, with Mr. McGrath and others, be built the Delaware Valley steam railroad from Stroudsburg to Bushkill, in Pike County, and of which he was the first vice-president. In 1902, with local aid, he commenced the construction of the Easton, Tatamy & Bangor street railway. In 1903 the two companies last named were consolidated as the Northampton Traction Company, with Mr. Thomas A. H. Hay as president, William O. Hay as secretary, and Mr. M. P. McGrath as a director and member of the executive committee, the company operating from Easton to Nazareth, Tatamy, Stockertown and Bangor, traversing the center of the great slate and cement deposits of the county. In the same year Mr. Hay disposed of his stock in his pioneer power company in a merger with the Easton Gas and Electric Company, now operating with a capital of two and a half million dollars. All these large properties had their beginning with Mr. Hay, who was author of the original project and of several others which developed from it, and all primarily owed their development and success to his prescience and indomitable energy. Mr. Hay is also one of the originators of the trolley road from Easton to Lake Hopatcong and thence to Jersey City, this giving direct communication between north part of Northampton county across the state of New Jersey. In 1896, with his brother, William O. Hay, Mr. Hay purchased the abandoned fair grounds and laid out Fairview Park, which, with the property formerly held by their father, makes them owners of nearly all the vacant ground from Twelfth to Twenty-first streets, now one of the most valuable and beautiful setions of Easton. Mr. Hay is a member of numerous social and fraternal bodies, and was an incorporator of the Pomfret Club; the Commercial Club; the Orphevts Club, of which he has been president for twelve years, and the Oratorio Society. He has attained to high rank in the Masonic fraternity, and is a past master of Easton Lodge; was grand steward of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, and a member of Easton Chapter, R. A. M., and Hugh de Payens Commandery, Knights Templar. He is also a member of the Royal Arcanum, the Heptasophs, and the Easton Lodge of Elks.


When the Wahneta Silk Co., of Catasauqua was incorporated in 1905, Mr. Hay was among its original stockholders and was one of its directors.

Mr. Hay began business as wholesale Dry Goods Merchant in 1876. In 1879 he became assistant Assayer -in-Charge of Helena (Montana) Assay Office, returning in 1882 to the Wholesale Dry Goods business in Easton. In 1889 U. S. Postage Stamp agent New York City. Mr. Hay was builder, operator and Chief Executive of the Power, Light and Transportation companies.

Mr. Hay had a number of side business ventures, such as, manufacturing, real estate, building, mines, sheep, cattle and various other interests. He is a member of the Masons, Elks, Knights Templar, Shrine. Zeta Psi College Fraternity, Sons of Veterans, Easton Pomfret Club, Art Club of Phila., and Rocky Mountain Club of New York City.

Mr. Hay's business address is 341 Northampton street, and he resides on North I4th street.