Family heritage is nuts and bolts foundation of business

This is the first in a year-long series of monthly profiles concerning businesses in the Springfield area that are at least 100 years old.

by Kris Ann Hegle

SBJ Contributing Writer

For more than a hundred years, five generations of the Rathbone family have been selling hardware on East Commercial Street.

In 1875, Thomas Henry Rathbone purchased a store in the 200 block of East Commercial Street in what was then known as the township of North Springfield.

With the help of his son, James Henry, Thomas Rathbone opened Rathbone Hardware and Queensware Co. The first floor contained Queensware, the name then for fine china and dishware, tools, dry goods, and tack and saddle supplies. A tin shop, which made cans and buckets, was located on the store's second floor.

A tinsmith by trade, Thomas Henry had a tinsmith business with James Vaughn in the southwest corner of Springfield's square. In fact, Thomas Rath-bone and Vaughn are credited with building a zinc casket for Union Gen. Nathaniel Lyon, who was killed at the Battle of Wilson's Creek on Aug. 10, 1861.

One of Springfield's early businessmen, Thomas Rathbone saw the potential of opening a new store on Commercial Street.

Only five years earlier, the St. Louis-San Francisco Railroad had built a new station nearby at the corner of Commercial and Benton streets, and the area was expanding rapidly.

Thomas Rathbone and his son James ran the hardware store until 1897 when James left the business. Later that year, James Rathbone bought into the hardware business owned by J.F. Carmack. The store was located only a few blocks away at 508 E. Commercial St. and was called Carmack and Rathbone.

By 1900, Thomas Rathbone had closed down Rathbone Hardware. That same year, J.F. Carmack died. James Rathbone purchased his partner's interest from Carmack's widow and renamed the store Rathbone Hardware Co.

In 1911, James Rathbone's son, Claud Henry Rathbone, joined the business following his graduation from Drury College. Claud Rathbone left the business briefly during World War I, but returned home to help his father run the hardware business shortly after the war ended.

In the 1920s, James and Claud Rathbone decided to incorporate the business.

The move proved to be a wise one, and it helped the store stay in business through the Great Depression of the 1930s.

Following James' death in 1938, Claud Rathbone took over the business. By 1946, Claud was once again working alongside another family member his son-in-law Joe Bill Turner.

Turner, who married Claud's daughter Elizabeth, began working at the store after leaving the U.S. Marine Corps. Turner worked alongside his father-in-law until 1978. Claud Rathbone retired that year, and Joe Turner's son, Tim Henry Turner, joined the business.

According to Tim Turner, some of the more significant changes that affected the store took place during the 1960s. In 1963, the store became an Ace Hardware affiliate.

With the help of Ace Hardware, the store was revamped. The original sign was replaced and bigger windows were added along the storefront.

Even today customers don't have to look very hard to see reminders of the store's long history. Exposed brick walls divide the store into thirds. As the store expanded, it bought out the shops on either side, but the supporting walls remain.

Large historic photos also can be found throughout the store, and each picture is surrounded by antiques from that era.

Perhaps in another hundred years, one of the computers that now tracks the store's inventory will be displayed as an antique. How will the store look then? Will it still be a neighborhood hardware store?

Regardless, one thing may remain unchanged. The store's manager probably will be a descendent of James Henry Rathbone. [[In-content Ad]]