120 S Main - Culver Pro Hardware

Menser Building

Culver Hardware - 1943-1963 - Paul T. Snyder

1943 - Mar 31 - Goss Hardware - Now Owned by P. Snyder - ... Jesse Crabb is the manager and will be assisted by Sylvester Zechiel who has been assoicated with the business for 30 years

MARCH 31, 1943 — The hardware store, operated for 37 years by Oliver T. Goss, opened Monday morning under the name of Culver Hardware Store and the ownership of Paul Snyder

With the transition from Goss the Snyder family inherited the 1909 national cash register. Also the store was only in the northern half of the building it contained two sections. The south side of the building was used for storage and there was an array of items no longer used such as horse rope..

1945, Feb. - Buys Menser Building

A tranaction was completed last week whereby Paul Snyder became the owner of the Menser Building on Main street.

The Culver Hardware, is the proprietor

Clarence and Harry Menser are the former owners of the building which has been in the family since 1890

1948 - Jun 2 - News Agency to Open

The south half of the room of Culver Hardware had been remodeled and will be used by the Culver News Agency starting Saturday, June 5, with Jack Biek the proprietor. Complete annoncement is made on the last page of this issue.

Paul Snyder done away with the storage room on the south and expanded the store display space to include the full building.

The Culver Hardware burned on Easter sunday April 1957 and when it did it destroyed the upper portion of the building. The Snyder family was attending the EUB church on S. Main of which they were members and upon exiting the services saw the fire and smoke coming from the uptown area. It raged most of the day (3 hours) destorying only the upstairs portion of the building resulting in a monetary damage of $60,000. It also interupted the 'traditional' Easter Sunday noon parade.



Before the fire it was a 2 story building (upper floor apartments, ground floor buisness and basement) but renovations after the fire left only the ground floor and basement.

1957 - Apr 24 - Snyder Hardware Building Is Scene Of Spectacular $60,000 Easter Day Fire

Couple and Nine Children Flee For Lives

An unscheduled and spectacular interruption in Sunday noon's traditional Easter parade took place on Main Street when a $60,000 fire suddenly swept through the 79-year-old Culver Hardware and apartment building, causing Mr. and Mrs. Henry Chatman and their large family to flee for their lives as all their worldly goods were devoured in the stubborn three-hour blaze.

It threatened to be one of the community worst fires in the history of this.

Culver's truly great volunteer fire department was aided by nine pieces of equipment which got here in a hurry from Argos, Monterey, Rochester, Plymouth, and Green and Walnut Townships.

Some of our firemen ruined new Easter suits totalling $300, COYered by insurance.

If the winds of previous days had prevailed it is a foregone conclusion that one and possibly two complete business blocks would have been destroyed.

Fortunately, the three streams of water held the fire to the interior of the building under its roof consisting of three layers of shingles, a dozen applications of tar paper, and sheet metal.

Building Erected In 1878

The south portion of the frame building was built in 1878 by Ira Kline's father.

The north section was built in 1909.

It was one of the first buildings In town to be wired for electricity and defective wiring probably caused the conflagration.

Mr. and Mrs. Chatman and their nine children, ranging from 2 to 15 years, escaped from their second-foor apartment just as flames shot through the ceiling from the fire's source in the attic of the old frame structure.

Culver Fire Chief David Burns said the second floor and attic of the building were destroyed and extensive water and smoke damage resulted to stock in the Culver Hardware Store on the first floor. Burns set the damage estimate at about $60,000 but Paul Snyder, Sr., owner of the building and operator of the hardware store, gave an estimate of between $35,000 and $40,000 damage to the building and to the hardware stock.

Mrs. Pauline Chatman told firemen she discovered the fire at 11:45 a.m. after the family had begun a search of the apartment when they smelled smoke.

Mrs. Chatman said flames shot out at her when she opened a bedroom closet. She said the flames alhad burned through the ready closet ceiling from the attic and moments later flames shot through the ceiling in other parts of the apartment.

Take Children Out

Chatman, a construction workerd and his wife herded their children to safety as the flames burst through the outer walls and roof of the building. All the Chatman's belongings were destroyed, including the Easter dinner which was never eaten.

In addition, household goods stored in another second-floor apartment were consumed by the flames.

Culver Police Chief Don Mikesell asked the Marshall County Chapter of the Red Cross to assist the disaster struck family. In addition, the Culver community offered assistance to the Chatmans.

They are temporarily living in a house owned by Mrs. M. E. Hodges on East Mill Street.

Also Culver citizens have donated food. clothing. and furniture to the family

1963 - Mar 6 - The Culver Hardware Store, operated by Paul Snyder, was awarded a 50-year certificate for being a member of the Indiana Hardware Association for that length of time.

The February, 16, 1967 issue proclaimed Bill Snyder as the new owner of the Culver Hardware.

Culver Hardware receives a 50-year certificate for being a member of the indiana Retail Hardware Association - 6 Mar 1963 Culver citizen

The Culver Hardware store, operated by Paul Snyder, was awarded a 50-year certificate for being a member of the Indiana retail Hardware Association for that length of time. The presentation was made at the recent annual state convention and industries show held at Indianapolis...

The way the hardware looked in the 1960's, into the 1980's with little change over the years picture was to have been taken in 1977

An aricle on Culver appeared in the Daily Herald a suburban newspaper of Chicago starts out mentioning the Culver hardware:

By Mike Michaelson
Daily Herald Correspondent
Posted Saturday, J uly 23, 2005

When darkness overtakes the tiny community of Culver in northern Indiana, visitors might be surprised to discover that Culver Pro Hardware on Main Street continues displaying its wares on the sidewalk. Ready for purchase are hanging baskets of bright geraniums and flats of colorful double marigolds and begonias.

The store doesn't keep late hours. It simply trusts that the stock will still be there when it reopens the next morning.

Usually, it is. Such is the trusting nature of life in a small town and the trustworthiness of its citizens and visitors - even in these uncertain times...

Culver Pro Hardware - - 1992, Dec 'Bill' william F. & Barbara Snyder

Basement was used for seasonal golf appareal shop but now used for storage.

Culver Pro Hardware - 1992, Dec - 2007,Dec 'Bill' Wlliam F. & Barbara Snyder Co-trustees

Bill remodeled with new aluminum framed plate glass windows and also a canopy. The name "Pro" was added to the hardware name in the early 2000's.

In 2006, the Bostwick Braun Hardware wholesale supply celebrated more than 50 years of buisness with the Culver Hardware.

In late 2006 or early 2007 Bill was awarded the "Golden hammer" for 50 years in the hardware business.

A sign over the hardware proclaming "Bill's got it"

The Culver Pro Hardware is found mentioned in the Cafe Indiana: A Guide to Indiana's Down-Home Cafes - by Joanne Raetz Stuttgen - 2007 as follows:

...Anchoring the south end of Main Street is Culver Pro Hardware, a worday source of assorted necessities to keep both utilitartian houses and summer villas running without a hitch...

Bill is resting his arm on the National cash register which was purchased by O. T. Goss in 1909 - the quip about it was found in the June 3, 1909 issue of the Culver Citizen - The Culver Cash Hardware Co. has added a National cash register. It will do everything about the business excet collect the bills and pay the rent. It is understood that the register remained in the Snyder family which seems so fitting.