Virden Hardware, Supporting the Community

By Cindy Ladage

This time of year, the Virden Hardware is brimming with activity.  People were heading in the store get their seeds for spring gardens and the hardware they need for spring projects.  The store offers a complete line of hardware, plumbing, paint, lawn & garden, rental items, and tools for everyone from the do-it-yourself homeowner to the professional.

The history

Looking up at the brick on the outside of the store you will see embedded at the top, the words Wallace Alderson this is a hint of the history of the building.  Long before Virden Hardware was ever a hardware store, the building was first a Farm Implement and Machinery Dealership called Wallace and Alderson, then later it was Beasley and Babbitt.  Virden Hardware’s Manager Russ Boehl shared that according to the Virden Recorder in April 1907 they reported of, “The Wallace and Alderson Big Building being completed.”

The building is a Mesker design out of Evansville, Indiana.

Although you would never know it now, at one time, out front of the building, the City of Virden gave permission for a gas pump on the front sidewalk!  This occurred on October 11, 1912.  Russ said that the building also was a Buick dealership at one time.  The Virden Recorder on January 7, 1926, reported a carload of new Buicks. At one time the store was also Snell Brothers John Deere dealership as well.

For many years Russ said that Virden Hardware was a True Value from 1966 until 2016.  They first began business in the former Gambles store in the basement of what is Hendricks Outlet Store before moving to the current location in 1976.

This family-owned business became a Do It Better Hardware store in 2016.  Over the years Russ said things have changed with the times. “Sales used to be one-third housewares, one third sporting goods and one third everything else.”

Today they are no longer into the housewares and sporting goods.  “We have evolved a lot,” Russ said. “We used to get toys and such, but now we are more of a traditional hardware and extended lawn and garden store.  It’s enjoyable.”

The business

The need for a hardware store is seen everyday with the traffic they have and the lack of hardware stores around.  “We lost the Auburn Lumberyard and Girard Huronores they are gone. Except for Pawnee, we are the only one around.  We must be complete, with plumbing, electrical and have a lot of inventory on hand,” Russ shared.

“People come here for our nuts and bolts. We have a large selection.  Our trace area is about a  seven mile radius for our inventory of chrome, stainless steel, and metric.”

In 2000 Virden Hardware added offering rental power equipment to their business.  This offers customers a chance to use the tools they need without having to purchase those items they only need on an occasional basis!

Russ pointed out that they have a big selection of Milwaukee tools. Customers can find lawn mowers, power tools and just about anything they need to get the job done!

At Virden Hardware, they also sell LP gas and since 2019, they have been offering the very popular LP sale on the 22nd of the month. “We have a guy out there all day long we offer to fill your 20lb. tank for $9.99.  There are long lines.”

The item that has been hard to keep in stock with COVID has been paint.  The items that people really come to buy Russ added is lawn and garden and electrical.  “Its our core.  We have people come from all over to buy our bulk garden seed.”

On the garden scene, Russ said we grow heirloom tomatoes.  “Someone asked for them, we are down to 30 kinds now.”

They start seeds in the basement and then they are ready to sell in the garden center.  The center used to be where they kept tractors when Snell Brothers sold John Deere tractors! “We also start peppers and eggplants and more,” Russ said.

The People

Over the years, the customers and friends have become like family as well as some of the people that have worked here. Russ said he has been there for 34 years, and he has seen several people come and go that some just stood out!  “We appreciate the kids that have worked here over the years and become successful like Tyler, Katie, Matt P, Matt M, Rebecca, Nicole and Adam,” Russ said.

Then there were mainstay employees like Norman Langheim that worked at Virden Hardware.  “He could fix anything, or it wasn’t broke,” Russ said about this farmer that also collected Allis Chalmers tractors and could make anyone smile with his ready wit.