Stepping Back In Time Part 1 (The Restoration)

( You may click on the photo's to enlarge)

In the little town near where we live

there is a wonderful old store

and stepping across its

threshold

is like stepping back in time.

It's called

The Old Hardware Store

and it has been in operation since

1885.

This old store is filled with antiques

and other items and is a furniture/home restorers delight. You can find genuine antique hardware for house or furniture and every kind of hardware in between!

There are things in here that Maragret is still discovering

or trying to figure out what it is.

 It's an amazine place to visit.

The old store in 1925

Today

The store is owned by Margaret Kraisinger.

Margaret and her husband Gary bought the building

in 1998.

The store was closed for 1 year while they did an

extensive restoration and then re-opened

in 1999. Margaret and Gary are

still restoring things

as they go.  

Before restoration

Thick layers of enamel paint covered the beautiful old

original oak cabinets bins and drawers which

had to be removed and in some cases the

wood had to be bleached before it

was stained and protected.

There are 5 individual units

that can be changed

around on this

wall alone!

Before (see the ceiling?)

After

 (42 feet of hardware cabinets-360 drawers)

See the hanging ladder?

It was re-hung after at least 40 years.

The other original fixtures such as the scales

nail bin, counters, signs and most of the show cases

have been in the store for around 75 years.

Did you notice that ceiling?

It's original.

The limestone building was built in 1879 after a fire burned down many of the wood frame buildings on Main Street. It survived the 1910 tornado and several severe floods.

Shortly after 1902-1907 the first owners had the heavy

tin ceiling installed.

Originally from the two medallions hung gas lamps.

The old fans were added during the restoration.

Over the years the ceiling was painted white but

Margaret was able to find spots of the old paint colors

and tried to match the colors as closly as possible.

They did a wonderful job!

There are two rooms behind this room, one is the

old office which still contains the original safe and bookkeepers desk.

There are even two hats hanging under the window

that belonged to one of the former owners.

I stopped by the store to take a few pictures for my blog last week and only meant to stay long enough to

take pictures and talk to Margaret for

a few minutes...I think I was

there for a couple of

hours!

There is just

so much to see

and Margaret is a wealth of

information. If you are ever in the  area

you should stop in and visit The Old Hardware Store.

I bet your husband wouldn't say no!

If you're restoring a piece of furniture or your home

and you're needing some original hardware...this is the place to go to.

You can visit THE OLD HARDWARE STORE at 

208 Main Street

Halstead Kansas 67056

or call her at

877-731-1188 (toll free)

In part 2 I'll show you some of the neat things Margaret

has for sale.

I hope you have a wonderful week.

Maura :)