Cordes hardware co.
Seymour, Indiana
Years of Operation: 1880 - 1969
Years of Operation: 1880 - 1969
The store front of the implement building for Cordes Hardware at 114 St. Louis Avenue shown around 1940.
Charles H. Cordes came to Jackson County Indiana around 1858 as a child. By the time he was 20 years old, he was working at a hardware store in Seymour, Indiana. This experience led Charles and his brother August to open their own hardware store after purchasing Kessler Hardware in January 1880. It was located on the north side of West 2nd Street in Seymour and operated under the name Cordes Brothers. A year later they purchased a frame building on the south side of the street. A new brick building was constructed on this location at 113-115 West 2nd Street. In 1882, the Cordes brothers took on a partner, W.A. Laupus who was their brother-in-law, and the business began using the name Cordes Hardware. As the business grew, by 1890 more space was needed for the implement business so a second building was constructed behind the main store (this building was at 114 St. Louis Avenue). In 1897, they officially incorporated their business under the name Cordes Hardware Company. Early in the 1900's, Harry R. Bobb, who was the manager of the implement department at Cordes Hardware, became a stockholder and became a member of the firm. On Thursday, February 28, 1928 Cordes Hardware hosted 500 area farmers for their Oliver Day demonstration event! Charles passed away in April 1939. Luckily, all three sons of the original owners were active in the business so it continued with Louis R. Cordes, Phillip L. Cordes, and J.G. Laupus at the helm. In the 1940's, Cordes Hardware handled the Oliver, Massey-Harris, and New Idea farm equipment lines in addition general hardware, tools, sporting goods, stoves, heating and cooling, and sheet metal fabrication. Continuing the family legacy, the third generation of the business was Phillip's son Phil Jr. and Charles W. Cordes, son of Louis. On February 27, 1962, Cordes Hardware had their final open house as an Oliver dealer. The decision was made to give up the Oliver franchise. At this time, William H. Bobb who had been the manager of the farm equipment division at Cordes Hardware for over 20 years, left the business to remain with the Oliver franchise. Later that year in October, Jackson County Farm Bureau Co-op was named the Oliver dealer and Bobb was running this new Oliver dealership. Cordes Hardware continued its farm equipment business with the Massey Ferguson and New Idea implement lines. At this time, Charles W. Cordes and Ralph Staub were appointed to run the farm equipment division.
After giving up the Oliver line in 1962, the Cordes Hardware farm equipment building is shown with new signage for their main equipment lines.
In 1969, a big change ushered in the next chapter for Cordes Hardware. Owners Louis Cordes and J.A. Laupus were ready to retire. So the retail hardware store was closed and the entire heating & cooling division was sold off to long time employee Ralph Rebber. The remaining assets were sold to Charles W. Cordes, who was grandson of the founder and already running the farm equipment business. As a result, on January 1, 1970, the corporation was reorganized with Ralph Stahl as vice president and sales manager, Louis R. Cordes (retired) as secretary, and Charles W. Cordes as president and treasurer. Later that year, eight acres of land was purchased at 411 Agrico Lane and plans were drawn up for a new dealership building. On Thursday, March 21, 1974, the grand opening was held for the new Cordes Hardware Company implement dealership building. At this time, Cordes Hardware advertised that with 94 years in business, they were the oldest implement dealership in the state of Indiana!
A view inside the implement dealership in the 1930's.
DEALERSHIP ADS
A newspaper ad from 1927.
Oliver Day in 1928 was promoted using a large newspaper advertisement.
In 1932, these were the major product lines offered at Cordes Hardware.
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The final ad for the annual open house at Cordes Hardware as an Oliver dealer in 1962.
Ad from March 1974 announcing the new dealership building.
FORMER BUILDINGS
Main hardware building at 115 West 2nd Street in downtown Seymour is shown in 2023. The original glass window above the door still displays the "CORDES" name.
The former Cordes Hardware farm equipment building at 114 St. Louis Ave. is now a restaurant in downtown Seymour. This the same building the Oliver 70 tractor is parked in front of and also shown with the Massey dealer sign.