Newtown Hardware House

Newtown Hardware House, 1915

Newtown Hardware House is an independently owned hardware retail store located at 106 S. State Street, Newtown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

History

The Newtown Hardware House was built in 1869 by Cyrus Hillborn and Harrison C. Worstall at 106-108 South State Street. 108 South State Street was a hardware store operated by Hillborn and Worstall, and 106 South State Street was a dry goods store operated by George E. Dolton. Mr. Dolton sold his side to George H. McMaster in 1908. When McMaster died in 1927, both sides of the store were taken over by H.C. Worstall, and later bought out by John J. Burns. When Burns died in 1955, Robert M. Davis bought the business and operated it until 1985, when it was taken over by C. David Callahan, the current proprietor.

The Newtown Hardware House was destroyed by fire on March 4, 1899. The fire was one of the worst in Newtown's history. It is thought burglars set the building on fire.^[1] The building was rebuilt to the exact specifications of the original building and was reopened by Christmas of the same year and is still in operation. Today, when looking at the rear wall, lower left(Northern) portion of the structure, a distinct brick line exists that outlines surviving brickwork dating before 1899. The Newtown Hardware House has been in continuous operation for over 130 years, which ranks as the longest tenure for any single business in Newtown.^[2]

Exclusive Brands

Newtown Hardware House carries such major coating brands as:

• Martin Senour Paints
• Sikkens Stains
• Old Village Paint
• Bartley Stains
• Minwax Stains

References

1. ^ "Burglars and Incendiaries." The New York Times 2 Mar. 1899: P.5.
2. ^ Rounsavill, Brian E. Newtown Past and Present. Ed. C. David Callahan and Paul M. Gouza. Newtown: The Newtown Historic Association, Inc., 2006.