Coleman Hardware Company — Morris
October 31, 2012 8:32PM
Coleman Hardware Company of Morris in the early Twentieth Century. From David Belden and the Local History Project digital collections
Updated: December 2, 2012 6:35AM
The Then photograph shows the Coleman Hardware Co. in Morris. The business began as the Hall Furniture Co. in 1867, shortly after the Civil War. After a series of name changes, the company reorganized under the name of the Colman Hardware Co., with J. C. Coleman serving as president.
In the early years, the business used the I & M Canal and the Rock Island Railroad to unload raw materials and send products to market. By 1910, nearly 300 workers produced pulleys, locks, hinges, manholes, iron toys and other specialties. However, the Depression of the 1930s took its toll on the company, and in March of 1933, Coleman Hardware suspended operations.
Over the years, different companies operated out of the facility. Today, at the west end of Illinois Street, along the east bank of Nettle Creek, the surviving remnants of the once large complex is still visible in the Now photograph. In 1994, the old building was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Photos are from David Belden and the Local History Project digital collections. Belden is a history teacher at Minooka High School and is publishing local postcard books with Arcadia Publishing in his classes. If you are interested in contributing a postcard image, email him at: dbelden@mchs.net or call 815-467-2140, Ext. 260.
