How many businesses can you think of that have been in continuous operation for 135 years in the same location? Probably not many. Lord’s Hardware has been operating continuously since 1882 in downtown Indianola, Nebraska. If you need some obscure widget and don’t have time to wait for fulfillment from Amazon, there’s a good chance that Lord’s might have it in stock. I was there recently to purchase a stove flue damper, and happened upon a new-old-stock mid-century modern light fixture in the process. It had probably been on the shelf for half a century – it still had the original price of $6.95 written in grease pencil. Of course I bought it. When was the last time retailers used grease pencil to price items?
Like most old buildings, the structure that houses Lord’s has changed throughout the years. The overall character of the original section feels like the early 20th century. But here and there one can discern remnants of the late 19th century. Victorian-era shelving displays merchandise, some of which is accessible only by a rolling ladder. Worn maple flooring peeks out between various floor coverings. Pressed tin ceilings from the 1900’s add character to the space. Adjoining buildings have been annexed, and the business today has expanded far beyond the original storefront.
Even if you don’t have a pressing need for some obscure item, a trip to Lord’s will be worth your while and an experience you’re not likely to forget. It’s a bit like time travel, and reminds me of what the world used to be like (i.e. more genteel than the present).
The narrow isles are filled with pretty much everything.
Some items have been on the shelves literally for decades.
The cast iron grille in the upper left is likely one of the remaining vestiges of the original 1882 interior. Glass block from the 40’s or 50’s wraps the corner storefront.
Mid-20th century fluorescent lights combine with a Victorian skylight to illuminate the retail space.
The languishing light fixture with its grease-penciled price.
My Jetsonesque light fixture at the cash register… It’s fun to buy new/old stuff!
The storefront itself was updated in the mid-20th century.
The door pull is a striking example of Art Deco styling.
Neat! Looks like a very fun place.
It IS a fun place – a few years ago I bought some mid-century fiberglass lampshades there… you never know what you’ll find!
There was a very similar hardware store in Ottawa Illinois we used to shop at growing up (Jordan Hardware). It was located in a series of connected downtown storefronts with merchandise in several levels. Sadly it burned down a number of years ago, and the block remains vacant today.
That is sad. I looked it up on Google Maps and see that the site is now an under-utilized park named “Jordan Block Park”. Looks like a nice town, though… with still a nice assortment of historic commercial buildings.
It is a cool medium-sized town with a long history. There are some beautiful old homes there too, just taunting me to restore them (sadly it’s out of range of any employers in my profession).
I especially like this George F Barber home:
1236 Ottawa Ave, Ottawa, IL 61350
https://goo.gl/maps/4cTD8QUUyKT2
The house in Ottawa is similar to two other Barbers… the Jeremiah Nunan house in Jacksonville, Oregon as well as the James A. Beck house in Fairfield, Iowa. Nobody did Queen Anne quite like Barber!