Barlow Hardware Wholesale and Retail was established in 1888 as Barlow, Brigham and Follett Company. It was later incorporated as Barlow Hardware Company. The store itself, was built in 1891 and was located at 40 - 42 North Center Street. It contained more than 50,000 square feet and in addition to in-store sales, the store operated a rather large mail order business. Barlow Hardware employed more than 30 people, including men who worked exclusively at plumbing, tinning and steam / hot water heating work. The company also had a rather large buggy and carriage business. The company published an annual catalog and carried a complete line of tools, building material, stoves, ice boxes, vacuum cleaners, washing machines, and just about any other household item one could want. Shoppers could even buy a year's supply of heating coal from the store. With everything that the store sold, its name was kind of misleading. The store even had a music department where you could buy phonographs, records, sheet music and such. You could even buy a 10 quart ice cream freezer with a cedar tub for $5.90!
Barlow Hardware went out of business in between 1926 and 1927. The building then became the home of Montgomery Ward and later served as the administrative offices of Corry-Jamestown until around 1962. After being vacant for a few years, it served as the location for Richard's Clothing Store and is currently the home of Meerhoff's Furniture Store.
