The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1903-05-21
A HARDWARE TALK.
The Growth and Development of the
Hardware and Machinery Trade
of Princeton.
Brief Sketch of the Three Hardware
Firms that Supply the Trade
of Princeton.

most country towns that do any kind of
a business, but there are very few
towns the size of Princeton that do as
extensive business, and whose mer-
chants are as thrifty and prosperous as
Princeton merchants.
One of the heaviest lines of trade in
Princeton is that of hardware and farm
machinery. Princeton has three hard
ware firms, all carrying farm imple-
ments, and there are several other deal
ers in farm machinery. The pioneer
dealer in hardware and farm machin-
cry is T. H. Galley, the firm now being
the Galley Hardware CO. Mr. Galley
started in business in 1869, the firm
name at that time being Galley Bros.
In 1872 they located on the corner
where the business is conducted at the
present time. Later D. A. Galley with
drew from the firm which continued
for some time as Galley & Nicely, r. NJ.
Nicely buying an interest in the bust
ness. When he withdrew T. H. Galley
became the sole owner of the business
and has given it his personal supervis-
ion ever since. When the business was
moved to it's present location in 1872 it
occupied store 2Sx6O feet. In those
days the character of the stock was
much different from the present varied
stock. Then there was not the demand
for farm implements that there is at
the present time, and the principal
trade was with loggers and lumbermen
who bought heavy supplies for logging
operations. AS the country began to
change and commenced to show
the transformation wrought by the SET
tiers, and building operations began,
the hardware and implement trade be-
gan to grow, and Mr.. Galley kept in
creasing his stock, until his business
soon outgrew it's limited quarters and
he was obliged to add to his store. He
erected a large brick warehouse in the
rear Of the original store building, with
a large basement under the entire
warehouse, for the storage of potatoes,
etc. Later he built another big ware
house south of his store 40x220, with a
large loft for storing stock. The store
proper at the present time is 60x120
feet. In connection with the store is
the furniture department. where is dis
played stock Of furniture and auxili-
airy supplies as good as any to be found
in the cities.
The hardware stock embraces every
thing that a housewife, farmer, bust
ness man, mechanic, or builder could
wish for, while in agricultural imple-
ments, wagons, buggies. etc., the Galley
Hardware Co. carries an immense
stock, and there is not a farm tool or
piece of machinery used by farmers in
this section that the firm does not keep.
trade has always been Mr.. Caley's
motto.
AS the place began to grow and there
were increased opportunities for doing
business another hardware store was
started in a small way by E. K. Evens,
who had clerked for some time in the
clothing store of S. NJ Byers. Mr..
Evens started in business on the old
Byers' corner in 1891, and moved later
to the building where Brands store is
now located. J. G. Herdliska was as
sociated until 1898 with Mr. Evens at
which time the partnership was dis
solved and the following year Mr..
Evens moved into his present building,
the firm being Incorporated as the
Princeton Hardware Co. at the time
Mr.. Herdliska withdrew. When Mr..
Evens got his. new store completed and
his new stock moved in he certainly
was justified in feeling that the Prince
ton Hardware Co. was a firm that was
a credit to any town. The business had
grown at very rapid rate, and with
the advent of the firm in new and en-
larged quarters business increased
right along. The new building was
50x1O0 feet, and it was provided with a
large basement with nine-foot ceiling
and with a capacity of 1,400 bushels of
potatoes. Last year the firm name was
changed to the Evens Hardware Co.
It was found necessary in order to make
room for the rapidly growing stock to
build on an annex in the rear of the
store 5Ox52, with an upper floor for the
display of carriages, buggies, plows, etc.
The annex has a cellar under the whole
floor with a ten-foot ceiling and a ca
pacity of l 300 bushels of potatoes. On
the lower floor is glass harness repos-
itory which contains fine display of
harness of all kinds, whips, robes, etc.
In this way the harness stock is kept
free from dirt and dust and can be seen
much more readily than if it was hang
ing up in the store with other stock.