In September, 1911, Kingstree residents were discussing one of the biggest real estate deals ever negotiated in town. Kingstree Hardware and the People's Mercantile had jointly acquired property on Hampton Avenue, owned by Dr. W.V. "Jack" Brockington, which included Dr. Brockington's home and all outbuildings. The price paid for the property was $6,300, which had the townspeople talking because at that time Hampton Avenue wasn't considered to be in the "business part of town."
The old Kingstree Hardware building now houses the Williamsburg County
Department of Social Services. The one-story portion was constructed and occupied
by The People's Mercantile.
There was much speculation about how the property would be used. The County Record noted that it was likely that Hampton Avenue would become part of the business-section of town, considering that both Kingstree Hardware and The People's Mercantile were involved in the purchase and that businesses were becoming interested in moving closer to the depot. The State newspaper, however, proclaimed that W.H. Carr, general manager for Kingstree Hardware, would remodel the Brockington house to live in and sell the rest of the property.
As it turned out, The County Record was far more in tune with what would happen than The State. At the end of January, 1914, Carr awarded a contract for the construction of a three-story brick building to house Kingstree Hardware. The hardware company had existed since 1904 in facilities on Academy Street. The new building was expected to cost approximately $8,000. At the same time, The People's Mercantile hired the same contractor to build a one-story building next to Kingstree Hardware. Construction crews worked rapidly as both businesses wanted to be in their new locations by the opening of tobacco season in July.
Ad in The County Record of June 25, 1914 for Kingstree Hardware.
Kingstree Hardware opened for business in the new store on June 22, 1914. In addition, W.H. Carr's brother, S.D. Carr, a representative of Charleston's Siegling Music Company, announced that his company had leased the second floor of the three-story building and would open a branch music store here.
The hardware company had been in its new location less than two months when thieves struck. During the night of August 2, 1914, burglars entered the building through the transom of the rear door, making off with cash, cutlery, air rifles and cartridges. Two days later, the police chief apprehended four 14-and-15-year olds who had made the mistake, The County Record observed, of going to the "suburbs" to try out their ill-gotten rifles and ammunition.
Kingstree Hardware had long had the reputation of presenting creative window displays that attracted people to stop and look. At the new location, the creative displays continued with The County Record noting in September, 1915, "A clock in the window of the Kingstree Hardware Co.'s store is just now exciting all sorts of speculation from the city's sages and philosophers, as well as from those of ordinary intellect. The device runs and keeps accurate time with absolutely no apparent means of propulsion, as it consists of nothing more than two hands revolving on a delicate axis, which is held at right angles against the plate glass window by means of a small, rubber vacuum cup. What makes it go, nobody knows, and it is understood that unless someone solves the mystery pretty soon, Mr. W.H. Carr is going to offer a prize of $50 to the one who cracks open this tough nut." The writer hoped the mystery would be solved soon "as it causes too much of a creepy feeling among the populace to have such mysterious arrangements hanging around town during these times of war."
Ornate details were retained in the restoration of the Kingstree Hardware building.
By December, 1915, Kingstree Hardware became the first merchant in town to buy a Ford motor truck for deliveries, and in 1917, it was the first to use a Smith-Form-a-Truck. The Form-a-Truck allowed owners to convert a Ford chassis into a one-ton-truck. In February, 1918, Kingstree Hardware had become an agent for Piedmont Automobiles in addition to its hardware offerings.
1921 ad for Kingstree Hardware's Funeral Services.
The hardware store had offered coffins and caskets for much of its existence, but in 1921, L.J. Stackley, a licensed undertaker, became part of Kingstree Hardware's staff. It was noted that compartments on the second and third floors had been established to accommodate his work.
W.H. Carr died in December, 1921, and was described as "one of Kingstree's most beloved citizens." It was noted that his funeral was one of the largest ever held in Kingstree.
Old "ghost signs" for B. C. Moore & Sons adorned the side of the building for many years.
That wall unfortunately fell during a microburst while the building was under renovation.
In later years, the building was the home of B.C. Moore's department store, the Belk Bargain Store, and even later still, The General Store. It sat empty for a number of years before the Williamsburg County Development Corporation renovated it for use by the Department of Social Services.
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