History of Neighbors
Before Neighbors Mercantile opened its doors, we documented the journey—step by step, dust and all. From the first time we turned the key in the lock, to uncovering the building’s rich history, to naming our shop and finally welcoming our first customers, these blog posts captured the process in real time. Now, we’re sharing those original posts here so you can look back with us and see how Neighbors Mercantile came to life. This is where it all began.
Day 1
March 30th officially marked day one of this project, for myself anyway. Marcus and Debra's day one was months, if not years ago when they began dreaming up this project. To begin, I picked up my new key, grabbed a latte and headed over to the building to investigate a little further. I believe that it is important, especially in a building with so much history, to fully research and appreciate what is existing and what has come before. This post is dedicated to what is existing as it sits now. Below are several photos and a video tour of day one so we can properly note our beginning.
Photos of the building before we began renovations
Back When...
Part 1
As we begin this project, we want to first start by looking back. I think it was J.Lo. that once said, "... no matter where I go, I know where I came from." Let's follow J.Lo.'s lead and remember where this structure came from...
The building located at 151 E Market Street, originally the Bechtel Building, was constructed over the years of 1887 and 1888. Samuel Bechtel began construction in 1887, but was killed in an excavation accident, which stalled the project until the following year. Samuel Bechtel along with his brother Henry also established the Farmers' and Traders' Bank of Nappanee. It was said of Samuel, "Mr. Bechtel was a shrewd, far-seeing business man, a banker of the soundest judgment and a public spirited and progressive citizen. He made a good property and at the time of his death left a large estate of land and town property. He was accidentally killed in a gravel bank near Nappanee."
Originally known as the Bechtel Building, located at 151 E. Market Street in Nappanee, Indiana.
Bechtel's widow, Mary, remained passionate about the completion of the project and lived in an upstairs apartment once it was completed. The remaining spaces housed a dry goods store, a barber, a tailor and a Masonic Lodge. It also had a triangular pediment on the roof that read, "Bechtel, 1888".
The structure was designed in the commercial style of Italiante architecture. This style of architecture was developed in the early 19th century in Britain by John Nash. It took its inspiration and vocabulary from the 16th century Italian Renaissance architecture. It gained in popularity in the U.S. from the 1840s-1890s.
Original design inspiration in the style of Italiante Architecture
Details still seen on the building today that come from this style of architecture include the flat roof, the projecting eaves supported by corbels, and the pedimented windows. As you can see the top photo of the building during the late 19th century, it originally featured large first floor windows, which suggested a piano nobile (Italian for "noble floor"), often seen in homes of this style.
This year marks the 132nd anniversary of this old building. Think of the things this building has seen? It stood through Women's Suffrage, the Great Depression, both World Wars, the Civil Rights Movement, September 11th and the War on Terror. It survived the EF3 tornado that went through Nappanee in 2008. We move forward feeling honored to be able to put our mark of this time in history on not only this building, but our community as well.
Back When...
Part 2
Even if you've just moved to Nappanee, you probably know of the Martin Hardware building just off the main downtown intersection of US 6 and SR 19. Though you will not have had the opportunity to shop there as it has been closed since 2013, the building still boldly declares "MARTIN HARDWARE | SINCE 1958." The mural on the east side of the building of Raymond Martin, the store's founder, causes my 4 year-old to call it the 'old man building'.
The Old Martin Hardware Mural, originally located at the front of the building.
I, myself, only vaguely remember shopping in here a time or two when I was in my teens. The hardware store was not where I spent a lot of my time at that age. But if you start asking around, you'll find a lot of your neighbors have a memory or more at Martin Hardware: picking out their first (or fifth) baseball mitt and getting it conditioned, finding just the right bolt or fitting they've discovered they needed mid-project, picking out the perfect paint color to freshen up a bedroom, or buying bags of lawn fertilizer to make their yard summer-ready. Martin Hardware's motto:
"If we don’t have it, we can get it — if we can’t get it, you don’t need it."
We recently had the opportunity to meet with Dennis "Denny" Martin, who took over the business from his father in 1972, to hear more about his time there. An early comment Denny made in our meeting, "It smells different."
New Face. Photograph by Merri Chapman. Nappanee Advance News, August 31, 1994.
As we walked the building, Denny filled us in on the secrets this old place has to offer. He pointed out where the hallway used to be that led into the old Nappanee Hotel next door. We learned about the manual elevator lift that used to go from the basement to the top floor pulled by ropes and pulleys (This actually answers the question from our walk-through video of the mystery door in the hidden office! If you missed out, take a walk-through now) We were even shown two other hidden rooms that we didn't know existed yet -- but those will be explorations for another day.
Doing business in a 100 year-old building presents its challenges at times, whether that's with fitting in modern-day display racks, updating to new technology or simply just following the complex maze of utilities from a century's worth of time. One technology that seemed pretty state-of-the-art for the time of Martin Hardware, was the video security system. Upon asking about the cameras Denny just laughed and said, "Those start nowhere and go nowhere." The cameras placed throughout the main level were for looks only to help deter theft. :) "Faked you out though, didn't they?" he chuckled.
Denny Martin, the former owner of Martin Hardware, giving a tour to Marcus, the new owner of the building.
After spending 43 years of his life pouring into a business, a building, a culture; I wondered what Denny would miss most. He didn't reply right away. But eventually he said what he missed most was the smell. He commented that he often heard the remark from newcomers, after a deep inhale, "Now this smells like a hardware store." Though he didn't know what that scent was at the time, without thinking he commented on that difference when he came back into the building all these years later.
In a small town like Nappanee you get to enjoy a certain kind of close-knit community that larger cities aren't always privy to. One of those manifested in the morning coffee shared among the locals each day at Martin Hardware. Some of those coffee mugs are still hanging in the building today. I can only imagine the stories that were told during this daily ritual. I asked Denny if he had any good stories to share from his time at 151 E. Market. "None that I can repeat!" he replied with a hearty laugh. But he followed that up by saying there were many times that he and his employees would comment that they should be writing some of these things down to come back to and read in the future.
Our visit with Denny Martin was a wonderful reminder of the history of our building and our town. The stories that fill these walls give us a hope and excitement for the stories we will create here as well. If nothing else, may this be a reminder to you to write things down. Remember the good times and take note of them. All good things come to an end, and the extra time at home with our families will come to an end all too quickly. We may even look back and wish to be back here. I've been listening to this song recently called Good Old Days, by Macklemore. One of the verses says this:
"Maybe these are the moments
Maybe I've been missing what it's about
Been scared of the future, thinking about the past
While missing out on now"
Where To Go From Here
Any new adventure can be exciting and daunting all at the same time. I remember when I got married, ten years ago this summer, I was so excited to start our life together, but also planning the wedding, paying for a honeymoon, finding housing... it was daunting. Anyone else out there feel this way? When we had our first baby... there was so much to look forward to, and so much to plan for (and so much we couldn't plan for). I say, thank goodness that we don't know the whole truth of what we're getting into when we first step in it! The exciting part of the journey is the mess along the way. The way we rise and fall. The help we get from others further ahead in the process. The refining. It's beautiful and horrible, isn't it?!
There will be much that we cannot plan for in this process, and yet as we are starting to make plans, we decided an important step is to get a better grasp on our values; what is most important to us as a business, to our community and most importantly to our customers. This process of evaluating the many ideals we hope to live up to and decide what is most important was refreshing and clarifying. It gives us a direction, a place to step.
These core values inform the way we do business, the product we carry, even our name! Which I'm sure you've been wondering about. As we make some final preparations we are growing ever eager to share with you all the name of our new retail shop!
This big news will be coming soon!
Because a major value is you, our future customers, we will also be reaching out to listen to what you are looking for in Nappanee. What are your values? What product can you just not find around here? What do you hope to see in this new exciting space? Make sure you Like our Facebook page so you can have the opportunity to get in on the planning as well! More details will be coming soon!
This week we also walked the building again to make note of the items that we love the vintage and worn-out appeal so much, we must preserve them to use in the shop; to bring a little bit of Martin Hardware with us. Take a little photographic tour below of some of these items. You will have to revisit the days of "I Spy" and "Where's Waldo?" once we open to see if you can find these being utilized yet again to serve customers!
Original pieces from Martin Hardware, patiently awaiting their next life and purpose.
What's In A Name?
My husband and I have recently been doing a bit of home improvement projects. If you know me at all, you know I have a project list a mile long. As many of us have spent more time in our homes, and also trying to escape those homes by going outside, we have all noticed the great spots in our houses, and also the not-so-great. The home improvement stores are now experiencing a rush of customers ready to make some long overdue changes. The folks down at Ace Hardware have seen my face down there over the past couple weeks far too many times!
The most recent project that the Johns' household accomplished was a new a paver patio. We are by no means professionals, but it turned out quite nicely, if you ask me. About half-way through laying out these huge 24"x24" pavers (and they were heavy!) and leveling and straightening them the best we could, one of our neighbors brought over a couple tools he thought would help. (I think he saw us struggling.) He also offered some refreshing drinks for us once we were done and ready to relax. :) It's good to have good neighbors, isn't it?
Our neighbors next door were busy putting up a new fence this weekend. As we stood outside and shared about our respective projects, I mentioned that our garage door hasn't been working and we would probably need a new motor. They told me that they had a brand new garage door motor that was made for a larger door than what they needed and was just collecting dust in their shed and gave it to us! God is so great! And it's good to have good neighbors, isn't it?
It was diverting on this first beautiful weekend of May to see and hear the buzzing of the neighborhood as everyone was working on their own home projects too... lawn mowers rumbling, saws buzzing, hammers pounding, and children laughing as they whiz up and down the street on their bicycles. This is the Indiana that I love. The warm sunny weather and the friendly faces of our neighbors working and playing alongside each other.
It is with this sentiment that we are ready to announce the name of our new Market Street venture in downtown Nappanee!
The brand new Neighbors Mercantile Co. is slated for a grand opening in the spring of 2021. Beginning with the renovation of the building itself, to the product on the shelves, down to the gift wrap we will lovingly place around your packages; Neighbors Mercantile Co. will be a place that is filled with the Indiana that you love. It will embody that nostalgic, homegrown, Midwest vibe that encompasses Nappanee's motto, "Embrace the Pace". From the ding of the front-door bell to the creaking of the centuries old floor boards, we can't wait to welcome you back to the charm of times gone by. It's Gary Portnoy's lyrics that keep running through my head:
"Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name,
And they're always glad you came;
You want to be where you can see,
Our troubles are all the same;
You want to be where everybody knows your name."
We are in this for the long haul and we hope that this blog can be a welcome distraction for you through the coming months as we continue to look forward and make plans and have hope for the future together. Plus, it's always good to have good Neighbors, isn't it?
--Lauren
We would also like to give special recognition to Lauren Johns for the time and creative energy she poured into the design aspects of this project. Two years is a long time to work on something—especially when it’s delayed and reshaped by the unexpected challenges of a global pandemic. Thank you, Lauren, for your vision, your patience, and your dedication to bringing this space to life.
Glossary of Terms:
Sources:
- "Images of America: Around Nappanee, Hometowns of the Heritage Trail" by Amy (Lant) Wenger, Page 19 (Charleston SC: Arcadia Publishing, 2003.)
- "Pictorial and Biographical Memoirs of Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties, Indiana", Pages 538-39 (Chicago: Goodspeed Brothers, Publishers, 1893.)
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italianate_architecture
- http://www.christianklugmann.com/new-blog/2015/4/24/san-francisco-victorian-homes
Building photography by Nappanee local, Matt Bennett.
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