Walk Through the Hardware Store

Upon entering the new store, I asked the lady at the check out counter if it would be all right for me to take pictures of the displays. She said, "Sure, go ahead." So I did. As I wandered through I couldn't help but think how this wonderful 100 year old business has flourished and kept up with the times in our rural area. At least they have been able to save much of their historical items through the years of fire and so many devastating floods. 

Towards the end of my journey, and believe me, I did not cover it all, a male clerk approached me asking if he could help me. I just replied, "No, thank you, I'm OK." He then asked me why I was taking so many pictures. I told him that I love the store and all of the wonderful displays and will share some of the pictures on a blog I was going to write. His reply was, "Oh! I thought you might be a competitor checking and documenting our displays and pricing." I must have really looked surprised as I never thought I would have been pegged as a spy! I told him I had asked permission from the lady at the counter first and she told me it was OK.  As I was shaken by this, I took two more pictures on the way out (of the bicycle on the wall by the baseball memorabilia) and forgot to take one of the old beautiful Harley Davidson Motorcycle! All I remember was that it was a chain drive model and rosy colored. I hadn't even ventured into the area with the pet supplies! 

Later on, I called the store and talked with the counter lady and told her what happened and asked her if she was reprimanded. She wasn't spoken to at all. Next I talked with one of the owners and asked him if they would like to see the pictures I took and he was delighted. When I explained to him why I was taking the pictures he explained to me that several competitors have been scoping out his displays and pricing. I now understood quite well. Since this business has moved further into town, a large hardware chain has taken over an empty building that is in a closer proximity to where the old store of my story once was. 

The pictures are yellowish in tone and I think it due to the interior fluorescent lighting throughout. At home I have to turn off the two in my kitchen because they make my pictures yellowish too. I mentioned this to the owner and he said they had a difficult time with the Santa photos taken inside the store for the same reason. 

• Automotive
• Electrical
• Grilling
• Hand & Power Tools
• Housewares
• Lawn & Garden
• Lumber & Building Materials
• Outdoor Power Equipment
• Paint Shop
• Patio Furniture
• Plumbing
• Sporting Goods
• Toys
• Wallpaper & Home Decor

Not Just a Hardware Store

Not just a hardware store - one hundred years of sales, service and tradition! M.C. Gay began selling farm equipment from his farm in Sugar Hollow, PA in 1913. As the business began to prosper he, along with his son, moved the business into a building in Tunkhannock and then to an old opera house there. It soon expanded to a complete hardware store carrying a full line of household goods and farming needs.

He was a well known person throughout the area due to his extensive service to the county and organizations and musical groups. In 1929 a fire completely destroyed the building and the entire stock of merchandise. The business then moved across the road to the old woolen mill. It has been there until this year when it moved closer into town.

I have been there often and was always amazed at the variety of goods available. The reason it has moved again is obvious but a bit sad. You see, the business in the old woolen mill building was very susceptible to flooding. The first major flood was in 1936 with six more in 1972, 1975, 2002, 2004, 2006, and 2011. They were all terrible with a huge amount of goods being destroyed. The Susquehanna River flows directly through town and underneath a large bridge. 

The hardware store was moved and the old building torn down.  *See Video.

100 years is a tremendous milestone and honor for this small town hardware store that has endured so much and has given back enormously to the community. The entire family has worked in this hardware business at sometime through the years since 1913.

We visited the new store and I was amazed at the interior. I will go again soon and take pictures to show you what I mean. Another 30 mile one way trip will happen quickly. It was a thrill to see the interior displays and also the remembrances of its history throughout.  I can't wait to go back! Now…what do I need there? They have it ALL! There is even lawn equipment and a sporting goods department. 

Confession: I was brought up with a regular hardware-store-visiting-dad and still love to run my fingers through the bins of washers, nuts and bolts! 

*   http://wnep.com/2013/04/08/gays-true-value-moving-in-tunkhannock/

http://wyomingcounty.wnep.com/news/news/62485-cleaning-flood-damage-gays