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"America's Oldest Dime Store" -- Berdine's Five and Dime, Harrisville, WV
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"America's Oldest Dime Store" -- Berdine's Five and Dime, Harrisville, WV
From their website:
berdinesdimestore.com/
Welcome to Berdine's Five and Dime, a small, special corner of “Almost Heaven” West
Virginia.
Berdine's Five and Dime has been in continuous operation in Harrisville, West Virginia
since 1908. We are pleased as we complete a century of service to our community,
neighbors and patrons from afar. We continue to celebrate the simpler times, slower pace
and nostalgia for a time gone by.
We are America's Oldest Dime store. With our pressed tin ceilings, bins of novelties, tin
toys, bulk candies, and almost anything we provide the same friendly service decade
after decade. Since 1908 we are where generations have come for gifts and practical
items. Called one of West Virginia's “Best Treasures” by one of our state’s Charleston
newspapers, Berdine's continues to evoke memories while providing practical and purely
nonsensical merchandise. Bulk candy from our antique oak case, bins of old time and
inexpensive toys that you remember from your childhood, gifts for special occasions that
you will not find elsewhere. If you cannot find it anywhere else - try Berdine's! Your
grandparents did!
Our family, the Six family, have been the owners of Berdine's since purchasing it from Fred
W. Berdine in 1983. When we acquired it efforts to modernize and “compete” with newer and
chain stores had lead to decline. We removed much of the modernization: out went
fluorescent lights, flower power bright plastic contact paper hiding older, darker solid oak
counters came off, the classic bins and price labels on the bins were dug out an put back in
use. The electric cash register went as did many other “improvements.” Time rolled
backward.
Originally it was brothers Dean and “Bub” Six who purchased the store but in the 25 years
since, their mother, Eleanor, has become active in operations and, at various times, so has
everyone in the family including the now grown grandchildren, Samantha and Rob.
Karen Harper had begun work for Fred Berdine upon completing high
school. When the Six’s acquired the store a few short years later Karen
remained. Thank goodness. As store manager Karen has often been
the person most customers and visitors associate with the face of the
store. Her easy people skills, light hearted chatter and real ability to
connect with folks have made many visitors feel like they are family.
Indeed she exchanges Christmas cards and notes with several families
and sometimes their now grown children.
Also on the Berdines help staff is Monika Crum, Mary Margaret Smith
and at times friends and family of us all! Come see us and learn for
yourself!
Visiting us is not a step back in time, it is like taking a giant leap
back in time! Back to the days when going to the Five and Dime
meant getting supplies as well as the neighborly news and maybe a
spool of thread. Life was perhaps a little easier back then, certainly
a little slower. Visiting our store brings back the feel and experience
of those bygone times when a friendly visit was assured and it still
is! We are always glad to welcome and assist you at Berdine's.
You may visit us here on line at any time, or you may come and visit
us in person in West Virginia. We're open every day 9-5, except
Sunday. We are at 106 North Court Street, Harrisville, West Virginia
26362. Telephone us at (304)643-2217.
The story of Berdine's begins in 1908
when K.C. Berdine and his brother,
Lafayette relocated from
Pennsylvania to Harrisville, West
Virginia after a brief effort to establish
a store in Weston, WV.
Harrisville was then winding down
from an oil and gas boom that had
turned Harrisville into a bustling town
almost overnight. K.C. and Layfayette
opened the doors to Hunt & Berdine's
Five and Dime, locating their store on
the corner of Court and Main Streets.
By 1909 Layfayette had withdrawn from the business for other ventures and K.C. became
sole owner. K.C. (Kit Carson) married a local girl and his ties to the community were set.
K.C. and his wife worked to meet the needs of local customers, guaranteeing no prices
would be higher than 10 cents. In 1915, the business moved to its present location on
Court Street. The new location was also then a new building with the first floor built
specifically to accommodate the 5 & Dime. The name was changed from Berdines Five and
Dime to Berdines Variety Store, though many local residents continued to refer to it as
“The Five and Dime.”
Fred Berdine worked in his fathers store from the time he
was tall enough to peer over the counter, and in 1954, Fred
took over the store from his father. K.C. successfully ran
the store for 46 years, and Fred operated the store for the
next 28 years. In 1982 the store was purchased by the
current owners, the Six family of Harrisville.
In the 25 years since the time the Six family acquired the
store, they have returned the store to its original look and
feel. Modern “improvements” were stripped away and
golden oak counter tops re-emerged and glass divided
bins and classic clip on price tags all re-appeared. Today
Berdines stands as a piece of history to locals while those
traveling from states away to enjoy it’s diverse and fun
products as well as the feel of yesterday. Many locals recall
family members shopping there for generations. The
store's philosophy remains just the same as it was when K.
C. first opened its doors a century ago: treat each
customer special while solving to maintain
necessary and novel products in a pleasant,
friendly shopping experience. Today, every
customer is greeted warmly, with our
employees understanding that treating others
with civility is more important than making a
sale. Today, after a century, it is the place for
which children save their money to shop at
for candy or the special odd toy.
Bob and Lob. Photo by The Donkey Sanctuary
Image by Donkey Sanctuary Press Images
The Donkey Sanctuary gives gardeners a boost with launch of Donkey Doo
PRESS RELEASE from The Donkey Sanctuary
30th May 2012
Launched today, Donkey Doo combines donkey manure with charcoal to produce an additive and chemical free soil improver to make gardens bloom this summer.
Made on-site from donkey manure and charcoal processed from The Donkey Sanctuary’s willow beds, Donkey Doo does not contain any chemicals or additives, helps off set carbon footprints and promises great results for gardeners! Available from The Donkey Sanctuary’s Visitors’ Centre, a large bag of Donkey Doo costs £7.99 with a percentage of all sales being donated to help the charity’s work with donkeys and mules worldwide.
Farms Manager Annie Brown of The Donkey Sanctuary says: “We care for more than two thousand donkeys in the UK. At Trow Farm (one of three composting sites) we convert 1,300 tonnes of manure and soiled straw into soil conditioner each year. Not only is composting the environmentally friendly way to treat our waste but when combined with charcoal made from our willow beds it creates a fantastic product to make gardens flourish.”
The soil improver is being produced by Exeter based business The Carbon Compost Company using production methods which ensure that Donkey Doo is a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional peat-based additives.
Geoff Self of the Carbon Compost Company says: “We’ve had some truly remarkable results which demonstrate the benefits of using Donkey Doo for both flowers and vegetable gardens. Not only is it great for gardens but thanks to our charcoal burning methods, carbon emissions are fixed into the soil making an easy way to offset personal carbon emissions equivalent to a 100 mile car journey per bag.”
Donkey Doo customer Mary Dodson of Totnes reports: “Donkey Doo has made a huge difference to the quality of my previously indifferent soil. I carried out my own experiment with hollyhocks. The two planted in Donkey Doo grew to six feet and flowered profusely all summer. The two in the normal soil grew to two feet and didn't flower. All my plants thrived in the compost and needed less watering in dry weather.”
For more information about Donkey Doo please contact The Donkey Sanctuary via enquiries@thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk
ENDS
Notes to Editor
For an interview, further information or images, please contact The Donkey Sanctuary press office on 01395 573142 or mobile 07970 927778.
About The Donkey Sanctuary
International animal welfare charity The Donkey Sanctuary was founded by the late Dr Elisabeth Svendsen M.B.E. in 1969. It supports projects to alleviate the suffering of donkeys in 28 countries worldwide, including sanctuaries across Europe, where more than 15,000 donkeys and mules have been cared for, and major projects in Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Kenya and Mexico, where donkey welfare is improved through community education and veterinary work. It also provides donkey-assisted therapy for children with additional needs and therapeutic visits for elderly people in the local community from centres in Belfast, Birmingham, Ivybridge, Leeds, Manchester and Sidmouth.
For further information telephone: 01395 578222, view www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk or visit the charity’s headquarters near Sidmouth in Devon (open 365 days/free admission).
