Most folks know to stop by Wilkes County Hardware for a key that works… but did y’all know that we do all of the following things each and every single day as services???
Hundreds of key blanks available for duplication!!!!
Key duplication- need an extra key or lost the extra key to your car. Bring your original key 🔑 into Wilkes County Hardware and get a new one made.
Chip keys are also available and coming soon, Sidewinder keys!!!
2. Rekey door locks- sometimes for safety reasons you need your door lock rekeyed or would like to have your NEWLY purchased door lock keyed to your current key. We rekey in the store with locks in hand. You must call the locksmith for on site services with rekeying door locks. Ask for assistance inside Wilkes County Hardware for this service in store and pricing information.
Deadbolts and door locks can be keyed to the same 🔑 key
3. Padlocks keyed the same- want to use the same key 🔑 for multiple padlocks??? We have options for you to key padlock to your key.
4. Pool Water Testing- Summer splashing fun requires a bit of maintenance… bring a sample of your pool water to Richard for a quick test (for free) to see what needs to be addressed, chemicals added, etc.
5. Chain ⛓️💥 Cutting- chain cut to exact length, by the foot. Please note: once the chain is cut and purchased it is not returnable!
6. Pipe threading- Galvanized and black pipe cut to size. Threading is also available if needed.
Wilkes County Hardware has a good selection of Galvanized and Black Iron pipe that are available for cutting and threading. Fittings also available in store.
7. Window screen repair – old screen doors or window screens looking a little bit worn out? Bring them by for a quick update.
8. Roll pipe cut to length – this stuff is a bulky beast to cut and many other hardware stores now will NOT cut it to length. Instead, you are forced to buy the huge roll 😳. But at Wilkes County Hardware, we cut it by the foot for our customers. Thanks for supporting local!
9. Glass cutting- Glass cut up to 36 inches long, bring exact dimensions. Glass expert on staff, thankful to have Tim Billings experience and expertise!
10. Tool Handle Replacement- old wooden handle all busted up? Stop by to pick up a replacement tool handle or leave it with us and we will do the work.
This oldie goldie tool is used during tool handle repair… shaving off the excess
11. Kerosene heater repair- Wick replacement available with many popular styles in stock.
12. Knife and scissors sharpening- if those knives seemed to be a little bit dull, drop them off and we can give them a sharpen for you. Scissors need a bit of TLC??? Fabric scissors require more time and effort to sharpen- bring a piece of small fabric with you so we can test them as we work on them to make sure they are perfectly sharpened.
13. Free Assembly- Purchase a large item from Wilkes County Hardware like a Traeger grill, wheelbarrow, etc and we will assemble it for you prior to pick up.
14. Special Orders- We order new or needed products for our customers every week! Sometimes you find the hardware store product in stock but you might need a larger quantity, ask us to order it for you!
Gallons are common in store but we have the capacity to order 5 gallon bucket for a much larger job!
15. Carry Out- We carry out packages, or bulky large items to the vehicle for our customers all the time!
Pool chemicals, large bags of bird seed, and potting soils tend to be bulky and heavy and carry out is standard in store.
Someone shared this thought with us not long ago, it is definitely worth sharing… “We all make choices as a consumer, so choose to support your favorite small businesses so that they can continue be open. If we choose not to support small businesses they cannot thrive and survive. “
Thank you for supporting local businesses in our community!
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!
I walked up my front walkway after returning home from the hardware store one evening last week and I immediately noticed the difference in my grass. The grass looked drier and much to my dismay, a tint of light brown was mixing into the green grass 😬.
What a difference a few weeks makes!!!
The stress of the heat was noticeable. The summer heat is gearing up. Sadly, with little rain in the future forecast, being proactive was a necessity. It was definitely time to take a moment to tend to a few plants that needed a bit of watering.
Confession time… I’m a bit lazy this time of year, keeping my hose handy and I tend to not roll it up since I’m using it often enough during the dry spells of summer. This bright green color helps to distinguish between grass and hose, made by Zero G (available at WCH)
Rain water is ultimately ideal, for garden plants, and your blooming beauties. But, during the summer, the hot, dry days can make the lawn look like a brown crusty mess and those beautiful planters you worked so hard on… they can become a crockpot of dried plants if not adequately watered.
We are now in a long stretch without significant rainfall. The daily watering tasks can be done with a few simple steps to keep your plants or garden vegetables happy and healthy all summer long. I decided to share a few “tried and true” favorite watering tips that I have used over many years, now available on the blog today. I hope you can find something useful to help you keep your garden growing all summer long.
Summer Watering
1. Water in the Morning – The best time to water outdoor plants is in the morning when temperatures are less intense. This gives the plants time to absorb the water so they can get through a long, hot day. The second-best time is early in the evening.
Early morning hours offer your plants to opportunity to absorb the water slowly at the cooler morning temperatures.
2. Water daily if necessary-For your beautiful container plants, watering daily might be needed! In the intense summer heat, possibly even twice a day, for SMALL containers… these small containers act like a “crockpot” of sorts and it will cook the plants insides… if the plant dries out too quickly. So, my advice would be to use larger containers for outside. Go Big!!!
WCH Recommends: Zero G! This is a lightweight water hose that makes watering an easy chore in the summer. We have various sizes and styles availableWCH Recommends: Zero G! This is a lightweight water hose that makes watering an easy chore in the summer. We have various sizes and styles available
3. Keep a close eye on your newbie plants– Newly planted additions to your garden will need extra TLC. Be ready to monitor them closely and anticipate watering these new plants more frequently than an established plant in your garden. I often find myself watering twice a day with some plants if they need it!
WCH Recommends: A good watering can goes a long way during the hot days of Summer. Watering cans of all shapes and sizes abound inside Wilkes County Hardware!
4. If it’s Wilting… Water any plant thoroughly if signs of wilt begins. The plant is under great stress and needs an immediate boost. I also try to offer that plant a bit of shade as well so it can recover.
5. Where you water matters… Water plants and flowers from the base not from the top. Using a watering wand, watering can, or a sprayer that can help you achieve success.
WCH Recommends: Watering wands extend the length of your hose and allows for less bending in the garden. Place the watering wand directly into the base of plant and water well for best results.
6. Move your hose in place first before watering– If you are using a heavier water hose to water your summer blooms, move your hose in place before turning on the water flow to make it easier to maneuver. Enough said!
WCH Recommends: These hoses are heavy duty and ready to go the distance you need.
7. Soak it Up- Give plants a good soak… Hanging baskets often need a bit of TLC during the heat of summer. Consider using a 5 gallon bucket or old washtub to submerge the base into 5 gallon bucket or tub. The bucket allows for a good deep soaking to occur, leave in place until saturated. Another good watering option, consider adding soaker hoses into your garden.
8. During the Heat Stress, Find the Shade… If the stress of the heat is getting the best of your plants… Relocate your container/planter to a less sunnier location in your yard if possible. Obviously, if the plant is in the ground it will be much harder to do that and it is not ideal to move a plant in the midst of a hot summer. Moving an already established plant in the ground may not help your situation. But, a planter can be moved easily to shady spot in the yard to help it recover from the stress of intense summer heat.
9. Water your plants deeply– A brief shower around with the water hose will not be impactful. If your plants receive a good amount of water all around the base, it can soak into the roots, which the plant needs to keep growing deep roots. This will allow for less frequent watering to occur once the plant is fully established. I actually don’t water my established in the ground plants everyday unless they are dry or need attention and focus my attention on watering my container plants in the daily grind of the summer heat.
10. Perseverance- Gardeners are a hardy bunch of folks. They are very much like the gardens they grow, thriving in all types on conditions that Mother Nature gives. Regardless of the “drought like” conditions that the garden endures, it can still thrive with a bit of persistent attention in regard to the ongoing summer watering cycle. Just keep growing and watering!
Living the "hardwarelife", join us in our journey of hardware store ownership
The Hardware Life - A wife's journey into the hardware business 