By Kaitlyn Clark
The Haldimand Press
DUNNVILLE—Following the removal of previous signage, the Ross Hardware name was uncovered at 160 Queen Street, Dunnville last week.
The Press reached out to Karen Richardson, Curator of the Cayuga Heritage Centre, to learn a little more about this piece of Dunnville’s retail history, which truly begins with the Thomas Scott Hardware store. The book “Remember When” by Lorne Sorge included an interview from 1983 with George E. Walker, who had worked as a clerk for Thomas Scott in 1913. Walker described carloads of wire, paint, binder twine, cement, tile, nails, and more being shipped in by train, adding that glass and paint were always kept in big supply.
“When carload shipments came in, all that stuff had to be moved into the store, upstairs or downstairs,” recalled Walker, adding that he also made deliveries of cement bags and kegs of nails on his bicycle. Walker made between $2-3 per week for his troubles at a time when they sold 7.5 pounds of nails for 25 cents and axe handles for 50 cents.
Ross Hardware was opened by Bob Ross in July 1948 after he took over the Thomas Scott Hardware store.
“In 1957, Mr. Ross opened a second floor Toyland and this department has now developed into Haldimand County’s most up to date and best stocked toy store,” read the Dunnville Centennial book, 1860-1960. “Excellent service by an experienced staff has made Ross Hardware one of Dunnville’s finest retail establishments.”
The Ross name would hold strong for 30 years before becoming Bartlett Bros. Hardware in 1978. The location was then taken over in November 1982 by The Country Kitchen, ending its days as a hardware store. Various other businesses and organizations have come and gone in the spot since, and with the current renovations it appears something new should soon make an appearance.
The Grand Heritage book published by the Dunnville District Heritage Association speaks of a number of hardware stores supporting Dunnville’s early years. This began with Louis A. Congdon around 1880, who would later partner with Thomas Marshall. Congdon’s sons, WT “Bay” and Russel, would then run the business until 1957, when it sold to long-time employee John G. Kohler, who would keep the Congdon & Marshall name on the store.
Meanwhile, in 1905 FF Haney and AH Pringle partnered with WJ Stearn for a store on Lock Street. Three years later Stearn was bought out, followed by Pringle another few years down the road. Haney’s sons, Fletcher and Robin, came on board and gradually expanded the business.
“In 1950, FF Haney Hardware was one of the largest stores of its kind in the Niagara area,” read the Grand Heritage book. The store closed in 1967 and the premises were taken over by the Crest Hardware chain.
Prior to this chain entering Dunnville, Canadian Tire opened its 29th store in Canada on Chestnut Street in June 1941. The business has moved locations many times over the years since, and had to be rebuilt following a fire on December 2, 1971.
