Dorman & Smyth Hardware Co.
There is a building in downtown Salisbury on the SE corner of W. Main and Market Streets that was built in the late 19th Century as the Dorman & Smyth Hardware Co. It is now unoccupied. Ann Taylor had done for this building what time tried to undo. Any building needs constant attention over the years and the sturdiness of this building gave her a sound basis from which to start. At one time it was home to the Thomas R. Young store. They sold pianos and sheet music for many years. The heavy beams visible in the lower level attest to the fact that it was used for some heavy duty when it was a hardware store and this probably made it an ideal store for pianos.
The post card above shows the store about 1907. It was one of the first buildings erected after the devastating fire of 1886 that leveled most of downtown Salisbury. The picture shows the stone construction that was mandatory by the change in the city charter to avoid another disastrous fire.
Below are some of the particulars of the principals in the business.
Levin W. Dorman (wife – Alice)President of School Board 1892-97
Home address (1907) 302 N. Division St.
(house number changed in Oct. 1952 to 204 N. Division St.)
Died in the early 1930’s – age 83
His photo was found in the “photographic album” of Jehu Parsons (mayor of Salisbury, 1898-1900).
The photograph of Jehu Parsons from this album is the one seen hanging in the third floor of the Government Office Building along with the other former mayors of Salisbury.
Since both men appear to be in their early 20’s, the photograph was probably taken around 1870.
Samuel S. Smyth (wife – Lillie)Home address (1907) 108 W. Isabella St.
(house number changed in Oct. 1952 to 110 W. Isabella St.)
Died in early 1930’s – age 77
HAPPY 285th BIRTHDAY, SALISBURY NEXT THURS., AUG.8
I wonder what old Mayor Jehu Parsons would think if he heard that in 2013 the Mayor of Salisbury was an outright homosexual who rigged an election?
ReplyDeleteThere actually were a lot of homosexuals in the late 1800's and early 1900's.They typically didn't run for political offices,and they were not as flagrant as they are today,but the percentages were comparable to today.
ReplyDeleteGeorge --
ReplyDeleteHow about something on the Thos. R. Young Co. that ran the music store there when we were both kids. That's where I first heard real jazz by Black Americans.
9:39 - You can bet that Dal. Truitt would have put Jim-Beau in his place (Rehobeth Beach) to stay. Not sure about Elmer Ruark or Paul Martin.
ReplyDeleteThe late Mayor Alf Truitt would have sent Ireton packing pronto.
ReplyDeleteI too would enjoy a piece on Thomas Young's music store. That is where I always went to buy my sheet music. They were really great people to do business with. Real customer service minded. When I had special singing engagements, they would order the music for me. I truly miss them! What a great time in our lives.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the memories.
Still have a Gibson flat top acoustical guitar purchased in 1964 in great shape from there.
ReplyDelete