Hardware Store

Three of the villages in Chester Township contained at least one hardware store – Conklin, Gooding, and Lisbon. Several hardware stores operated in the village of Conklin.

Henry Miller built the first hardware store in Conklin on the corner of Main and Miller Streets soon after the village was founded. A wagon team brought the bricks for the building from Slocum, Ravenna Township, Muskegon County. Slocum contained kilns for manufacturing bricks. John McWilliams was one of the builders and brick layers.

Mr. Miller sold the property and business to Barden, Lillibridge and Company. Barden, Lillibridge next sold the business to Stauffer Brothers who sold it to Henry Johnson. Mr. Johnson sold the business to John Vandermeer, who sold it to Edward F. Dinkel in 1927. Mr. Dinkel purchased adjoining lots and built a large addition on the south side of the building.

The July 31, 1931, Coopersville Observer article states,

“In addition to a very complete stock of both light and heavy hardware, Mr. Dinkel handles the John Deere line of farm implements. He is also agent for the Holland furnaces and has installed many of these popular heating plants in the vicinity. Mr. Dinkel is a naturally busy man and in addition to his duties at the store cares for the plumbing needs of a wide circle of satisfied customers in Ottawa and Muskegon counties.

He is interested in all the civic needs of his community and gives unsparingly of his time that the village may progress. When he is called to outside duties his wife takes care of the conduct of business in a very able manner and to the entire satisfaction of the customers.”

The building stood empty for many years until purchased by Robert J. Nauta, who opened another hardware store. He also sold Jamesway farm equipment. Following Mr. Nauta’s death in 1979, the building again stood vacant. It was finally sold to J & S Messing, who opened another hardware store. After several years, they closed the business and the building is now vacant.