Wow, you just described my love affair with old hardware stores. My dad had a tool shed (in the 50’s) that had “stuff,” and he worked for a while at an old hardware store, which we visited on occasion. I discovered that I could use things for other than their intended use. What a “wow” discovery for a young curious female (my bros were y…
Wow, you just described my love affair with old hardware stores. My dad had a tool shed (in the 50’s) that had “stuff,” and he worked for a while at an old hardware store, which we visited on occasion. I discovered that I could use things for other than their intended use. What a “wow” discovery for a young curious female (my bros were years younger). I occasionally roam Lowe’s or Home Depot. They can’t hold a candle. I still do this at my advanced age, and my daughter often said “what made you think of that.” Ask that 10-year-old…. the power of curiosity starts early
My dad had a plumbing/heating business & our garage was his shop. Lots & lots of really interesting stuff & watching him cut pipe? He went from manual to a pipe cutting "machine" at some point - lots easier. When I went back to work (after divorce) I worked in a hardware store for quite a while - woman run store!! Learned how to cut & flare copper tubing & more about plumbing fixtures etc. Lots of great "stuff"! Its a shame I didnt pay more attention when I watched my dad.
I also love old hardware stores, mostly because my father (who inherited his machinist father's handiness) used them all the time. there were always those older guys who'd look at something closely, nod, disappear into the back of the store and return with the perfect item.
when I first moved here in 1988, it was much more of an old mom-and-pop-store neighborhood, and we had a big old hardware store, where the owner's family also worked (including their wonderful Wheaten Terrier, who became a good friend of our dogs. there was also a large-ish Russian deli, run by an immigrant Russian couple who never seemed to have any business but our, but which stocked some superb items like Pick Salami from Hungary. slowly (then not-so-slowly) they all vanished, making way for money laundries to support the cocaine trade. last twenty years or so, the mom-and-pop stores have returned, although they're selling different things.
in 1988, there were these superb old '50s restaurants. now, they're expensive steak/sports bar-type places. we have kept our one famous steakhouse, which is apparently known in very high quarters (El Chivito D'Oro), and which was a required stop for showbiz types driving out to their places on Long Island.
but no more hardware stores of any kind. and good luck finding anything like one of those old-time hardware experts in places like Home Depot (which is a right-wing cash machine anyway).
I seem to remember there being a small hardware store on Main St in the village I grew up in, there was a small "dept." store - kind of a tiny version of a 5 & dime, my granddad's newspaper office, an actual butcher shop (great cuts of meat) drugstore, grocery store (owned by a local family) - probably forgetting some.
The hardware store where I worked was at a little stripmall at that time - of course thats no longer there, now its the local post office.
Wow, you just described my love affair with old hardware stores. My dad had a tool shed (in the 50’s) that had “stuff,” and he worked for a while at an old hardware store, which we visited on occasion. I discovered that I could use things for other than their intended use. What a “wow” discovery for a young curious female (my bros were years younger). I occasionally roam Lowe’s or Home Depot. They can’t hold a candle. I still do this at my advanced age, and my daughter often said “what made you think of that.” Ask that 10-year-old…. the power of curiosity starts early
Yes it does.
My dad had a plumbing/heating business & our garage was his shop. Lots & lots of really interesting stuff & watching him cut pipe? He went from manual to a pipe cutting "machine" at some point - lots easier. When I went back to work (after divorce) I worked in a hardware store for quite a while - woman run store!! Learned how to cut & flare copper tubing & more about plumbing fixtures etc. Lots of great "stuff"! Its a shame I didnt pay more attention when I watched my dad.
Beg to differ! You may not have consciously paid attention, but his passion for plumbing lives in you!
If you are ever in Portland, Hippo Hardware is a great place to go
Thanks for the information, Karen - doubt I will make the trip but sounds like a really neat place.
I also love old hardware stores, mostly because my father (who inherited his machinist father's handiness) used them all the time. there were always those older guys who'd look at something closely, nod, disappear into the back of the store and return with the perfect item.
when I first moved here in 1988, it was much more of an old mom-and-pop-store neighborhood, and we had a big old hardware store, where the owner's family also worked (including their wonderful Wheaten Terrier, who became a good friend of our dogs. there was also a large-ish Russian deli, run by an immigrant Russian couple who never seemed to have any business but our, but which stocked some superb items like Pick Salami from Hungary. slowly (then not-so-slowly) they all vanished, making way for money laundries to support the cocaine trade. last twenty years or so, the mom-and-pop stores have returned, although they're selling different things.
in 1988, there were these superb old '50s restaurants. now, they're expensive steak/sports bar-type places. we have kept our one famous steakhouse, which is apparently known in very high quarters (El Chivito D'Oro), and which was a required stop for showbiz types driving out to their places on Long Island.
but no more hardware stores of any kind. and good luck finding anything like one of those old-time hardware experts in places like Home Depot (which is a right-wing cash machine anyway).
I seem to remember there being a small hardware store on Main St in the village I grew up in, there was a small "dept." store - kind of a tiny version of a 5 & dime, my granddad's newspaper office, an actual butcher shop (great cuts of meat) drugstore, grocery store (owned by a local family) - probably forgetting some.
The hardware store where I worked was at a little stripmall at that time - of course thats no longer there, now its the local post office.
It was a great place to grow up & very sheltered!