Looking back at where we started in 2015 to now present day in August 2024 as we roll into year number NINE in the hardware business, I’m just shocked and amazed at the amount of change we have been able to accomplish over time. When you are there everyday, working amongst all this, it’s harder to see the progress sometimes. As the old saying goes, “can’t see the forest, for the trees”.
A small stack of old pictures were gifted to us by our friend, Steve Foster, who is our Orgill Hardware representative. Orgill, is our main hardware supplier. When we purchased the store in 2015, a new layout was in order. Initially, Steve took some photos to share with the Orgill layout team who helped us to reconfigure the best use of the available space. Did we follow the design they planned out??? Well, no. We modified a few things to suit what we wanted and needed our business to be after reviewing the blueprints with them. But those pictures are a good reminder of what the hardware store was, A Blast From the Past.
The original blueprint developed for us after we purchased Wilkes Hardware.
Those photo memories stirred a bit of excitement in me to create a pictorial version of that journey. Here’s an insider blog post reflecting upon some of the changes that have been made over time since our beginnings in 2015. The series of photos that follows in this blog will be featuring the 2015 photo then 2024 pictures will follow highlighting certain aspects of the hardware store.
2015 outside view 2025 outside view, exterior holding area for bagged goods which was not available in store prior to 2015. 2015 front door view… one thing I noticed was the lack of light 💡 interior of the hardware store2024… LED lights installed, and artist inspired designs on the front doors. Seasonal Flowers blooming at the front doors.
Initially, we were encouraged to paint the interior ceiling white. I pushed back hard. I wanted to keep it as “vintage, old hardware store” as I could. The ceiling and posts are still intact with original wood.
Summer of 2015: view around wood stove Summer of 2024: New work areas for staff has been created over time and in 2024 a new point of sale was added. We moved from the era of simply using a cash register to a full scale point of sale system in the first few years of business. 2015: Sink area used by employees but surrounded by merchandise2024: Now mostly a true work area for our staff, same area in view but this area is less customer friendly due to the proximity to the key desk work area and pool water testing computer work area. I noticed the amount of light is much more visible in this recent photo!2015: Back door entrance, note that the key 🔑 desk is not here!!!2024: Back door entrance. Key desk area present AND more light! 2015: Work area at back door entrance 2024: Key Desk area at back door entrance Behind the scenes of the key area Rekey area Pool computer, chip keys and more! 2015: Front Entrance View, it was a bit of a maze to find what you needed 2024: Front entrance view, we have tried to created a more open flow for customers to walk through2024: Front Door View2015: Key Desk was tucked away in the back of store… near the stairs leading to the second level2024: This area is currently being updated… it’s a work area for chain cutting, kerosene heater repair, stove pipe replacement parts, etc 2015: The back front windows of the hardware store were covered with pegboard, which was used to display long handle tools. 2017: These doors were uncovered and the pegboard removed! Wayne worked on the old lock mechanism so the doors were moving and mobile to unlock. Look at that beautiful door handle!!! 2024: Doors are open on the warm, summer days to add extra air flow into the hardware store 2024: Same view as the 2015 picture 2024: Lawn and Garden has been moved up to the front of the store 2015: Lock shop entrance door opened 2020: Covid AND the flooding of our hardware store with the water originating from the lock shop created the need to close the connecting door permanently. Due to the nature of the lock shop business, they are often gone on call. The security of the lock shop is more secure with the hardware store door closed.2020: Water entered from the back door of the lock shop, pushing the doors open. Water entered into our building as a result from the massive amount of water coming into flooded lock shop. The water was knee deep inside the lock shop! 2020: Water, water everywhere!!! It took several hours, lots of friends helping us to push the water out, and days of drying out. We were extremely lucky that the water level never reached higher than it did! 2024: Threaded rod, wooden dowels are right at home in front of the old lock shop door. Believe it or not, we still have folks who still try to go through this door to get to the lock shop. They are shocked to find it closed when they come in and find that they must use the main front entrance. 2015: View from back of store
Richard told me the other day the staff used to keep and carry a small flashlight (in pocket) with them as they worked inside the hardware store when he first started in the summer of 2015 due to the lack of light coming into the space. I had no idea that was how they were working. Adding light was a key factor initially as we began to analyze what should be done. Slowly, the light has been expanding and more work is yet to come!
These pictures are a treasure to me. Steve thank you! One of my biggest regrets is not taking enough pictures to photograph our beginnings accurately as we have grown and evolved.
2024: This area is currently being reset now!
Thanks for being part of our hardware journey. Stay tuned in for more updates! We appreciate your continued support.
If these walls could talk… the stories they could tell! Our hardware store is located at 324 10th Street. The outside brick exterior of the building looks well-worn… a few signs of old age are visible, as it should have, this building is approaching the age of 120 years old!
As you enter, you will probably find the front door open most days, weather permitting. The interior is full of beautiful treasures of the past, a fully functional freight elevator, wood stove, rolling ladder wall, and old wooden cabinetry lining the entire back wall. That venture into 324th 10th Street, through the hardware store reveals some of the days from long ago… the legacy and memories of times when hardware stores were simply different.
Yes, I believe that our hardware store is definitely a unique shopping experience that is worth exploring, even in 2024, as the days of ordering online has become a staple for many people. You can’t find some of these unique items online… Only inside these vintage walls. There’s no connecting or having a longing to go back to an online shopping cart versus wandering throughout your hometown old school hardware store. The experience is distinct and rare in today’s modern retail world. The two can’t be compared.
I definitely feel that a stroll back into time to get a visual sense of the origins of this old building is definitely blog worthy. So here’s a more detailed look at some of these iconic, vintage pieces found inside 324 10th Street revealing what we know as the true history of 324 10th Street.
The Freight Elevator
One of the unique features of our “Old School Hardware Store” is the freight elevator. Secret being told, the remaining oral history that we have been given is a bit disjointed. So we have in earnest, started trying to track down some information about this elevator from the direct source… the company that built it, Park Elevator.
Park Elevator is one of the oldest, independent elevator companies in the Southeast, dating back to 1898.
I continue to be absolutely fascinated by the fact that such a massive machine as this one was made in Charlotte, NC!
How very fitting that the former owners at 324 10th Street sourced materials locally and from our state. Richard and I are honored to carry on that tradition still in 2024.
Locally made items are available year round inside Wilkes County Hardware
Our old freight elevator has to be inspected by the state each year. The state elevator inspector requested a full load test in 2023. To be honest, we were very worried about that requirement to continue to have it in use. We debated for several months… what to do… is this a safe thing to do for such an oldie Goldie??? A full load test is a tough thing for an “old school elevator” to handle. Uncertainty loomed in our minds.
We decided to make a few phone calls. The elevator experts were very helpful. We actually have a few elevator technicians who frequent our hardware store and they often speak about how special and unique this old elevator is! They love it! So drawing from their experience and expertise, the phone call was made.
After speaking to the elevator experts about the situation concerning the full load test, we were pleasantly surprised to find out that the needed test was NOT a full load test but instead, a NO load test. Our old freight elevator has wooden side rails, therefore a full load test is impossible to do!! A full load test could literally shred the wooden side rails 😳. We had a path to keep the elevator moving!
State inspection done ✅ . Still waiting on the No Load Test.
The Wood Stove
Likewise, the wood stove was manufactured in Greensboro, NC. The wood stove has been quite a showcase for many of our visitors and regular customers. Check out the blog post that includes details of the information we know about this old classic wood stove below.
Researching and LearningMore About 324 10th Street
Ask and ye shall find! So, here’s the thing, we need your stories about this old freight elevator, and we need more history about our building. I actually had started doing my own research around the time the Smithey building burned down… but I haven’t had an opportunity to get back into it since then.
Life sometimes gets busy and projects get pushed away for a space of time. But here’s a quick rundown of the main essentials on what we know via oral history and research…
1. Building dates back to 1905.
2. EE Eller Wholesale was located at 324 10th Street until 1941 when he moved his business to Forester Street (advertisement in Journal Patriot – 1941) the space was used by ______________________ after Mr. Eller left???? we are unsure of what type of business existed after that…
Learn more about Mr. Eller’s Legacy: Mr. EE Eller, Chickens and Turkeys… Nothing but Clucking, Gobbling, and Plucking out the TruthThis photograph was sent to us by Mr. Eller’s Family and will be hung in its rightful place on the owners wall soon! The original photo hanging on the wall that had been identified to us as Mr. Eller was not really him! To read more about this click the link above about Mr. Eller. Look for this beautifully restored photograph the next time you come by Wilkes County Hardware.
3. Yates Wilkes Hardware began 1940’s???? No definitive date has been discovered.
Legendary Stories: We have been told that Mr. Yates began a hardware store for supplying his “moonshine friends” with needed equipment/supplies… as they say, nothing ruins a good story like the truth. I bet the truth lies somewhere between the two, the legend and the facts.
4. Glascock wood stove- Giant 24N style stove went into production 1930’s-1940’s in Greensboro, NC and unsure of date when installed in building (Nollie Neill, Glascock Stove Historian) Linked in blog today is a detailed overview of what we know about the wood stove.
5. Freight Elevator made by Park, based in Charlotte, NC. Research ongoing.
6. Rolling ladder Wall made by Putnam Rolling Ladder Company
Piecing Together The Puzzle of 324
A while back ago, I asked our social media followers to share their thoughts about painting our front doors at the hardware store. It was fascinating to find out everyone’s thoughts when we were curious about changing the paint on the front doors. Some people said don’t touch those doors, others wanted to make color suggestions.
I enjoyed the story one customer told us about the doors being a beautiful dark green color when she first came to the hardware store when she was younger which helped us connect the past to the present day.
These bits of information and history are the small pieces of a jigsaw puzzle that we are trying to “piece together” of our building and the objects inside. The timing of these stories helps us to “piece the puzzle together” and connect the jigsaw puzzleinto a whole. So we deem everything as important as we are gathering information and adding to our knowledge base of our building and its historical contents.
All of your stories are inspiring to us. Gathering these memories and stories helps keep this building alive long after we all are long gone, in hopes of creating a lasting legacy. Ourbuilding boasts the beginnings of the poultry industry in Wilkes, the legend of moonshine, and the hardwareindustry rooted right here in Wilkes.
Legendary stories, which maybe more fictional than fact, let’s face it, those stories are always fun to tell and listen to. But,ultimately, may not help us with our mission of fact finding concerning 324 10th Street and the ultimate dissemination of the lasting legacy at 324 10th Street. Truth be told, honestly, I believe we need a bit of both types of memories and stories for balance. I realize that we may not ever fully discover everything there is to know about this timeworn, treasure of a building, but it’s definitely worth the discovery in my minds eye.
Yes, in case your curiosity has gotten the best of you and are wondering… we ARE still planning to paint the front doors, BUT we know it will be a HUGE project. The doors will have to come down and be prepared for a full makeover. This old hardware store building is like an onion, and we slowly peel a layer away at a time and tackle what we can as we get time to do so.
As I have mentioned before, in an earlier written blog posts, Stories help keep our past history alive, & keep us linked together.
I feel that it is extremely important to undertake the quest of learning about a building that is close to 120 years old. Not many buildings in Wilkes can boast such a history! Sharing the legacy of a great old historic building in the center of Downtown North Wilkesboro for future generations yet to come should be a central part of who we are and why we are still relevant today.
Thank you for continuing to support us by shopping with us as we head into year NINE of business! We appreciate your willingness to help create the bridge between our past experiences to our present day by sharing memories and stories of a treasured building at 324 10th Street. After all, that is the heart of legacy.
A HUGE thank you to Kim Anderson Reid for this incredible address totem pole!!!
The month of June is the gateway to Summer. Here’s a glimpse of summer so far in the hardware life.
A bit of sunshine and color… totem pole is complete! A huge Thank You going out to Kim Reid for her patience and expertise, this came together beautifully! And yes, your local hardware store can help you with this project! More to come on this later!! Peeking through Same view… different day 💕Home sweet home sunrise
The Mountains are calling and I must go….
Sun peaking through the cloudsGolden hour approaches Hello Blue Ridge! Magical Sunset Sunsetover the Blue Ridge Good morning Blue Ridge Mountains Sunrise in progress Sunny SundayEvening storm rolling in
Other June Favorites
Hay There!Sunflowers 🌻 Colorful Black-eyed SusanA little bit of Fall colors in JuneOyster Shells
An Overview of Hardware Store Happenings in June
New summer t-shirts are selling fast! New pottery by Lisa Pruitt! Spicy sauce! Anyone ready for some homemade ice cream???Southern Summer… Making Homemade Ice CreamRestock of Goat Milk Soap! This product is an amazing seller!!!Blue Door Houses and more, by Kim Reid… these are selling quickly! New pieces by Keegan Watson Mid June brought drought like conditions…Summer Watering TipsReady for canning season??? We got y’all covered! Reset complete! Wow!!! What a job that was… moving cleaning, canning, outdoor grilling… but well worth it!!! Pools are big part of summer season inside Wilkes County HardwareFamily Splashing Fun-Pool Days of SummerSaturday morning bunny visitor. He had escaped from his cage from his home nearby the pool that we do daily maintenance for. After a few uncertain hours, we found his home! Thanks to all who reached out to help him get back home safely! This month has been a busy month in the garden/yard! Thanks for stopping by to pick up weed control, pest control options… and much more! Thanks for shopping local! Here’s to splashing into Summer!
The morning car ride to work is a short drive for me. I’m typically running errands on the way into work, or making phone calls to family…catching up on the latest comings and goings.
This particular morning, I had just left home and the car radio was on and that’s pretty standard. The radio is soothing background noise. What grabbed my attention that morning was the intense discussion between the two DJ’s about the word CRITTER. The opinions were definitely opposed.
“All Creatures, ‘CRITTERS’, great and small…”
One of the DJ’s was intent upon using the word as a negative term in regard to describe an animal/pest situation, such as a mouse or rat. The other DJ debated the word CRITTER as a way to describe any animal. I was inclined towards the later view.
What I gathered from that brief discussion was I never had really thought about that word origin before… was this word, CRITTER a true Southern thing? What is a CRITTER???
According to the dictionary, the definition of CRITTER actually refers to any type animal or creature… all creatures, great and small. The word derives from the term, Creature, as a variation… in regional dialect format. The word first appeared in the early 1800’s in literature as a derivative of creature.
I’m not really sure what I think about this word after my last encounter with the critters of the belly crawling type… lizards and snakes this past weekend😳. My first encounter with a lizard was short, and shocking to both of us. As I dug into an old flower pot, digging out the old roots with ungloved hands, as I began to pull up and out with the old root system, a lizard emerged!!
He was stunned as was I. The “critter” lizard was simply lying on the driveway unmoved. As the shock waves wore off that I had unearthed a lizard, my lesson in grabbing my gloves was brought back to view.
Lesson learned: Grab your gloves before heading into the garden especially when pulling weeds, or digging into areas that are unknown 😳. Wilkes County Hardware has gardening gloves available at great prices!
My other “belly crawling critter” of the snake type, has been spotted in my front flower bed. Ugh!!! Action has been taken to hopefully keep the snake from returning. My eyes are constantly peeled to keep any crawling critters in full view as I walk up the front sidewalk. I think I would actually call him, Mr. Snake, a “varmint” or pest instead of a critter.
Wilkes County Hardware has these available if you need them!
I must confess, my brain went to work quickly on this radio banter probably because we tend to deal a lot with pest control issues/ repellents inside the hardware store.
Folks tend to fall into two camps, as they are dealing with CRITTER issues… repel or embrace/make peace or coexistence with the Critters, making it a bit of Riddle. Which path to take???
Don’t get me wrong… Critters and PESTS are two different things in my mind. Pests can be destructive if action isn’t taken. The question, one must answer is the Critter becoming “Pest Like”??? In order to solve the CRITTER RIDDLE, and make the decisions that are necessary for all critters involved, both should be taken into consideration.
Case in point, Deer. What I have found is that some people welcome the deer into their yards by feeding these critters with offerings of deer corn, or other foods, providing a food source instead of hopefully letting the “critter deer” feast upon the tender garden plants themselves.
Others, repel the “critter deer” away from the delicate gardens in hopes that they will go elsewhere for a yummy treat. The Riddle… requires a bit of ingenuity of what will work well for that critter in order to achieve the desired outcome for each homeowner. Critter v. pest???
Which leads me to ask the question… How do you view that word, CRITTER??? It might not be mind boggling stuff, but maybe an exercise in how we view the outer natural world. A riddle of nature itself.
May is a wonderful time to be in the garden! Here’s a quick rundown of some of the BEST days according to Blum’s Almanac to plant, fertilize, harvest, or weed. Mark up your calendar to remind yourself, save this link, and head on down to Wilkes County Hardware to begin the Gardening season strong! Let’s get growing!
Tutorial on How to Read The Blum’s AlmanacPlant Above Ground CropsMay 2,3,6,25-26, 29-30Planting Flowers: May 10-12, 18,19Seed Beds: The BEST time to begin planting new seeds… May 10-12,20-22 Transplant Days in May: 2-3,6, 29-30
Get growing with a fantastic potting soil medium. This potting soil is “the workhorse of potting soils” and hands down my favorite! A MUST Use for transplanting!!!
Baccto is definitely in order to refill your planters this Spring. Yes, you should replace the potting soil in your planters each year by switching out the old, spent soil.
Our repeat gardening customers love this potting soil AND it is a fantastic value!!!
Here’s an interesting fact… Other potting mediums price their bags per quart or by Cubic foot(based on volume of product and additives) but not this brand! Baccto is priced by the gallon, making this a very affordable option and a much better value for quality potting soil! The price point, $8.99, for 25 pounds, $13.99 for a 50 pound bag, both competitively priced! It might be time to make the switch in 2024.
LASTLY, As a FULL service hardware store, we will LOAD these heavy bags into your vehicle for you!
Great Value!!! These two gardening gloves retail for LESS than $3 a pair!Prune to Encourage Growth: May 2-3,6,25-26,29-30Destroy Weeds 1, 27-28, Wilkes County Hardware has a good selection of different types of weed control products. Ask us about what your garden plan looks like, we can help you make the best decision for your garden care. Chemical Fertilizer: May 10-12, 20-22Organic Fertilizer: May 2,3,29-30Harvest your May Flowers, or crops using this Gorilla Cart… now available at Wilkes County Hardware. BEST Days to harvest in May: 1,4,5,23-24,27-28,31
May Garden Tips:
1. Water well, especially small containers… these small containers act like a “crock pot” on a warmer day, cooking those plants inside! Yikes! Go big when it comes to container gardening. You will water less. When watering with your water hose, water at the soil level not directly on the plant surface.
WCH recommends watering your plants in morning. Stop by Wilkes County Hardware for a new watering can, water hose, or sprayer.WCH Recommends: Zero-G watering is soooo much easier with this lightweight hose!!!
2. Have a plan when it comes to making your garden Deer Resistant
Deer 🦌 Repellents
Be proactive in keeping pests at bay. Wilkes County Hardware has a good selection of deer repellents. Be vigilant about your routine when it comes to spraying your plants. We recommend spraying your plants at least every two weeks… AND more frequently after heavy rainfall. I have also found that my deer became “immune” to the pods… If one method doesn’t appear to be working well for you, then it is time to switch it up. I’m currently using the deer spray and granular to keep activity to a minimum in my yard.
3. Insects are inevitable as the weather warms up… these creatures come out of their sleeping slumber. Don’t wait to see what happens next, stop by Wilkes County Hardware to learn about your options.
4. You have Gardening Power! You can do this in your own time and space. Do what works well for you and keep on growing and improving.
Your garden is not only the outward sign of beauty for your home, it’s also a reminder of hope and resilience to bloom even in difficult circumstances.., and lastly an opportunity to showcase cherished memories of those you love. Let’s get planting!
The Hardware Life - A wife's journey into the hardware business 