OLDEST -- Continuously operated hardware store in Texas
N 29° 42.094 W 098° 07.563
14R E 584543 N 3286036
The Henne Hardware Company claims the title of Oldest continuously operated hareware store in the State of Texas.
Waymark Code: WMFB8N
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 09/23/2012
Views: 9
Henne Hardware Company is recognized as the oldest continuously operated hardware store in Texas. Its story begins in 1847 when Johann Henne moved to Texas with his family when his son, Louis Henne, was 5 years old. Johann began a tinsmith shop and store where Louis Henne worked with his father at tinsmithing until Johann died in 1857. Louis then took over the family tinsmith business at 17 years old. By 1893, Louis Henne expanded his tinsmith business into hardware and mercantile goods and services by founding the Henne Hardware Company and building the two-story Victorian building which still serves as an active hardware store today (2012).
The Henne Hardware store building was designed as a Victorian two-story commercial store custom-build for hardware merchandise and had features well advanced for its era. The store still has the binds and shelves designed for hardware items and many other uniquely featured built-ins. The exterior walls are two-foot thick brick and the full basement beneath the two shop floors has its own water well. The Victorian façade of the building was remodeled in 1910 and paid for by Winchester Arms.
On the proper right corner of the Henne Hardware store front, at street level, is mounted a historical marker placed by the Texas Historical Commission designating Henne Hardware a Texas historic landmark. The text of the marker references that the third generation of Henne's conduct this business that was started in 1893. Also, the City of New Braunfels states within their New Braunfels Footprints in Time Historic Walking Tour Guide in both the video clip on this store and in the text available from the QR code that smartphones can decode that hardware store is the oldest continuously operated hardware store in Texas.
The location of the Henne Hardware Company is located at 246 W. San Antonio Street, New Braunfels, TX. There is street parking available in front of the store, but there is a large parking lot available behind it that is accessible off W. Mill Street. It is worth the effort to stop by and browse through this Henne Hardware store when you come to New Braunfels. TX.
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