From the 1938 centennial edition of The Times-Register
The Roanoke Hardware Company, organized in 1901 by A. H. H. Boyd, William B. Clemer, I. M. Warren and S. F. Woody, opened business at 22 West Campbell avenue, the firm having purchased the hardware business of Price-Armes Company at the same location. The Price-Armes Company were successors to Butt, Price and Company which a few years previously had acquired the Evans’ interests in what had formerly been the firm of Evans and Chalmers, mentioned in Roanoke’s first city directory in 1888 as successors to Watts, Bell and Evans, who opened the first hardware store in Roanoke about 1886 at 101 Commerce street.
This would seem to make the Roanoke hardware Company, considering its predecessors in business, the oldest mercantile establishment of its kind in Roanoke. In 1907 this firm bought out the hardware business of Fairfax and Bell located in Jefferson street and moved the stocks to West Campbell avenue consolidating the business in one tree story building extending through to Kirk avenue. In 1918 the company acquired the large four-story warehouse building at Roanoke street and Salem avenue.
Moved To Present Site
The business of the firm, both wholesale and retail, was conducted at 22 West Campbell until 1932, when the first move was made in thirty-one years. The retail store was then located at 109 West Campbell avenue, where it has been for the past six years, and more room being required for the conduct of the whole sale department, the large three-story building at 216-218-220 West Salem avenue, in close proximity to the big storage warehouse was secured by the firm. This arrangement has proved to be an ideal one for the firm as both the wholesale department and the warehouse are within a few steps of the Norfolk & Western freight station, enabling the firm to make heavy shipments by rail with the least possible delay.
The firm enjoys a splendid trade from every section of Southwest Virginia and portions of nearby states within a radius of 150 miles of the city. They feature the handling of all kinds of standard hardware from the most reliable manufacturers in the country. Many of their lines are exclusive in this territory and a great majority of items carried are nationally advertised.
The officers of the Roanoke Hardware Company are: S. F. Woody, president and manager; C. H. Chrisman, vice president; Robert W. Woody, secretary-treasurer. Mr. S. F. Woody is the only one of the original organizers of the firm still associated with its conduct.
– Prepared by Lingjie Gu
