Newtown Hardware House

Newtown Hardware House is an independently owned hardware store located at 106 S. State Street, Newtown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The Newtown Hardware House is a contributing property of the Newtown Historic District which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.[1]

Newtown Hardware House
Newtown Hardware House, 1915
Location in Pennsylvania
Location in United States
Location108 S State Street, Newtown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania
Coordinates40.22762°N 74.93724°W / 40.22762; -74.93724
Built1869
Architectdesignated_nrhp_type = December 17, 1979
Part ofNewtown Historic District (Newtown, Pennsylvania) (ID79002174)

History

The Newtown Hardware House was built in 1869 by Cyrus Hillborn and Harrison C. Worstall at 106-108 South State Street. 108 South State Street was a hardware store operated by Hillborn and Worstall, and 106 South State Street was a dry goods store operated by George E. Dolton. Mr. Dolton sold his side to George H. McMaster in 1908.[2] When McMaster died in 1927, both sides of the store were taken over by H.C. Worstall, and later bought out by John J. Burns. When Burns died in 1955, Robert M. Davis bought the business and operated it until 1985, when it was taken over by C. David Callahan. In 2012, C. David Callahan sold the business to William Newell of Newtown and remained on as a part-time employee.[2][3]

Fire

The Newtown Hardware House was destroyed by fire on March 1, 1899. In addition to the Hardware store another store was completely burned. The loss was estimated at $80,000.[4] The fire was one of the worst in Newtown's history. It is thought burglars set the building on fire.[5] The building was rebuilt to the exact specifications of the original building and was reopened by Christmas of the same year and is still in operation. Today, when looking at the rear wall, lower left (northern) portion of the structure, a distinct brick line exists that outlines surviving brickwork dating before 1899.[1][6]

Oldest business in Newtown Pennsylvania

The Newtown Hardware House has been in continuous operation for over 151 years, which ranks as the longest tenure for any single business in Newtown.[7] The hardware store announced it was going out of business in 2012:[8] City residents heard about the possibility that the hardware store may go out of business, so they organized a "Cash mob": a crowd of people arrived at the business to pump up sales.[9] In 2011 the store was in trouble, and by 2012 the store's owner Dave Callahan decided to go out of business.[10] Bill and Peggy Newell took over the hardware store. They purchased the business from Dave Callahan.[3][11]

See also

References
  1. "Newton Hardware House". Newton Hardware. Newtown Hardware House. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  2. "Philadelphia Area Archives Research Portal (PAARP) Search Finding Aids". DLA Library. University of Pennsylvania. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  3. Werner, Jeff (11 October 2019). "Newtown Hardware House celebrates 150th year in business with good friends, birthday cake, sidewalk sale". Bucks Local News. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  4. "Big Fire at Newtown". Bristol Bucks County Gazette. 2 March 1899. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  5. "Burglars and Incendiaries." The New York Times 2 Mar. 1899: P.5.
  6. Werner, Jeff (27 September 2019). "Historic Newtown Hardware House to celebrate 150th birthday on Market Day". MediaNews Group, Inc. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  7. Rounsavill, Brian E. Newtown Past and Present. Ed. C. David Callahan and Paul M. Gouza. Newtown: The Newtown Historic Association, Inc., 2006.
  8. Sofield, Tom (20 September 2012). "Newtown Hardware House Set to Close". Patch Media. Newtown, PA. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  9. English, Chris (29 April 2012). "Cash mob hits hardware store". Doylestown Intelligencer. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  10. Mellane, J.D. (24 May 2011). "Hardware Store on the Brink". Doylestown Intelligencer. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  11. "Retired businessman and Newtown Borough historian David Callahan presented with Good Samaritan Award". Bucks Local News. 13 March 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
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