Perfectly in line with a personal belief that any DIY plumbing repair attempt requires at least two trips to the hardware store, a recent one of mine did just that.

Thank goodness there are resources right here in Webster City. Having at least one source for household fix-it supplies was pretty much a “no-brainer” on our list for a new location when we moved, right up there with other essential services.

As usual, though, my mind wandered to the history of hardware here as I paid for two little “valve thingees” that I needed to replace.

Howard Parkhurst was born in Poplar Ridge, New York, in 1903 as the son of S. S. and Anna King Parkhurst. He was raised here and graduated from Webster City High School in 1921.

After getting a degree from Iowa State, he married Roberta Frank in August of 1936 in Wooster, Ohio. (Don’t get me started on why it’s not pronounced like a male chicken.) The young couple resided in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, for a decade before relocating to Webster City in 1947.

Howard opened Parkhurst Hardware at 534 Second Street.

The Parkhurst family, including the three children, were business-minded. A 1949 article in the Daily Freeman Journal tells of Anita, Sally and David having a successful day operating a “cool aid” stand in front of their home at 1218 Des Moines. Their entire profit, 50 cents, was then donated to the March of Dimes polio fund.

On a larger scale, Howard Parkhurst became active in Webster City civic affairs through his participation in the Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce and, later, as a driver for Meals on Wheels.

Howard retired in 1970 and sold a part interest in the business to a couple from Des Moines, Mr. and Mrs. Brighton Eddy. The Eddys ran the business until 1982, when they became affiliated with “Tru Valu Hardware” at the same location on the south side of Second.

A name change to True Value took place sometime before 1985, as evidenced by the ad pictured here.

An advertisement in the Daily Freeman-Journal of August 22, 2003, looks to find a new owner/manager for the store.

In 2004, Jim and Vicki Olson purchased the former Ace Hardware location on the north side of Second and opened the new True Value Hardware. A nice article in 2013 profiled Bozley, a Basset hound that would greet shoppers.

Now that’s a hardware store.

Howard Parkhurst passed on January 2, 1989, and is now residing in Our Neighborhood along with Roberta, who joined him later.

Through the years, hardware stores have been a kind of Dads R Us place, where thing-a-ma-jigs and doo-hickies abound; it’s the type of shopping experience where holding up the piece you need to replace is far easier than asking or describing what it is.

Heading to Fort Dodge, Iowa Falls or Ames for big box shopping can be (and is) fun … but give me the “here, let me show you where we have that” over a “I think it’s on Aisle 327” any time …

Our Neighborhood is a column by Michael Eckers focusing on the men and women whose presence populates Graceland Cemetery in Webster City.