History of RC Marshall Hardware Co.

History of RC Marshall Hardware Co:

History is a story we piece together from what we can find. If you visit our store, you may hear us tell stories about Marshall's and Cairo. We have pieces of history that few living can even remember.

The Marshall's building was built circa 1902 by the Greer Supply Co. The picture at right is taken from a Greer Supply Company receipt dated Oct. 9, 1918. Greer Supply existed even before this fabulous brick building was erected. In the 1899 TM Fowler print, WT Greer and Sons had a one-story store - which can be seen in this picture to the right of what we now call RC Marshall's.

Original Greer Supply Co.

By at least the 1920's Rolondus Clyde Marshall had opened a hardware store in Cairo. And sometime in the '30's he bought out the Greer Supply Company and moved his operations into their building. So most Cairo citizens associate our store synonymously with the RC Marshall name.

RC Marshall Hardware has always been more than hardware store - it served the community as a 'department store' for most of its history. It was a small town tradition for the whole family to go to Marshall's on Christmas Eve for a grand party and to buy presents for each other. We carry on a bit of this tradition each Saturday in December with music and refreshments.

In 1983, RC Marshall Hardware was closed. An out of state fortune hunter bought the remaining inventory - which dated back almost 100 years. He took out nearly three semi trucks full of horse-drawn farm equipment, and "NEW" Antiques. We have pictures before the store was emptied that show a half-dozen hand-cranked victrola's that had never sold. He tried to take out the built in display cases, but that proved to be too much work.

Thankfully so. In the summer of 1995, we purchased the building. After almost a year of hard work, we re-opened in the summer of 1996. The reaction by the community was outstanding. Bits of the store's history began pouring in - merchandise that had been purchased there by relatives long laid to rest decades before, pictures, stories, advertisements, even some of the store's original fixtures and furniture.

When you visit us, please walk behind the counters, open bins and drawers, give your small child a ride on the rolling ladders, and - most of all - don't hesitate to ask about things. Most things tell a story, they just use us for their voice.