Orme Hardware

The first establishment was located at the corner of East Eighth Street and Wheeling Avenue in downtown Cambridge, Ohio. First newspaper advertisements of the store designate its location as "on the East side of the public square. The ad stated it dealt in "shelve and heavy hardware. The business was actually started by Mr. A.C. Cochran. Cochran wa... s shortly bought out by Mr. R.V. Orme and Jacob F. Meredith, the original Orme in the company, and the business became known as Meredith and Orme Hardware. In a few years, Niel and Thompson became associated with the hardware, and once again the name was altered to Orme, Neil and Thompson Company. The incorporation papers were filed on March 14, 1900. By this time, the hardware had relocated to 828 Wheeling Avenue on a property belonging to Colonel Seneca Needham, in the former Globe Inn. The structure was a two-story building built onto a two story log house. The store carried such standard items as wooden pumps, wooden pipe, saddlery and horse collars, kerosene lamps and all the regular hardware needed for maintaining homes, businesses and farms. Coal mining supplies were kept in quantity to meet the needs of local mines, which at that were in full production. This included blasting powder, fuses and other related items. Orme Hardware, with its pot bellied stove for heat, was a great gathering place for the men when their wives came downtown to do their shopping. After making their own purchases, a few hours could easily be spent warming at the stove and visiting with friends. Change came to Orme hardware in December 1902. Mr. Niel quit the hardware business, selling his interest to Mr. McMahon, and the name became The Orme, McMahon, Thompson Company. The Orme family had continued in the business for many years with various associates. The name remained the same until 1952, when Carlos (Jim) Garver, then owner, changed the name to Orme Hardware, Inc. The Garvers operated the store, adding new merchandise and new services, until March 1957 when Tom Rae and John ...Read More