Whatever happened to all the old hardware stores in America? In Allen we have memories of some great hardware stores here such as Fritz Johnson operated. But it is long gone. His was located in the middle of downtown where the Allen Historical Site now sits. The last one to operate a full-fledged hardware there was Kenneth Janda and his “Ace Hardware” located in the same site.

I’m sure I will receive letters pointing out “survivor” hardware stores in Oklahoma that have survived the devouring by the “Walmarts” and “Home Depots” of our day. But I have my own favorite. It is the old McCoy Hardware in Stonewall, which was built about 1902 by the McCoy family. As I recall, this family was part of a massive relocation of Indians from South (Mississippi) to Indian Territory. This great store was housed in a 2½ storied brick building on Main Street over there. It still sits there, commanding old downtown Stonewall.

My dad, C. D. Bullard, purchased this business in 1953. The big 2½ storied building had a 2nd floor that was a part of the store (like a balcony) was serviced by stairs. The top floor was a massive space used for public meetings, musical events, storage, and even an office and shop for an undertaker. It was serviced by inside stairs and an external stairway on its east side. It also contained a large freight elevator to facilitate the transport of heavy items and wagons. The upper area was well fixtured out and illuminated by several chain hung copper-clad gas burning chandeliers. Musicals and show events were held in that space.

The store’s west part (ground floor) was a furniture and appliance department. The business was a complicated place to work, manage and run. So, one day my dad asked me to look after his store a few days while he was gone--I agreed but with some trepidation. Long time employee, Ms. Zeb McCoy, was to “help” me. I learned a lot about the store, about Oklahoma and Indians in those few days from this gracious lady.

One day another Indian lady friend of hers came in and after she and Ms. McCoy had visited a few minutes I told Ms. McCoy I didn’t understand what kind of Indian language they spoke. “Oh, that was not Indian, she responded. I was taken aback and asked, “how in the world did you ever learn those languages?” “She replied, “at boarding school.” She told me it was an old habit of educated Indians of the old south to send their young ladies off to school for a bit and that the habit continued in Oklahoma. “We learned how to dance, play an instrument, properly set a table, be a lady, and speak a foreign language.” Like I said, I was taken aback.

Yes, she said, it was required, and some didn’t like it (leaving home) but it was very beneficial. She went on to comment that we might need to do something of that sort in this modern area, considering some of the shortfalls of our present-day schools. It was a revelation to me and explained a lot of why Oklahoma was like it was at the turn of the century but not so much as to how it is like it is now.

I had heard that little Indian kids were sometimes forced away from their families to get them educated and literate in English. The media enjoys presenting movies and TV shows presenting this view. She said she had heard things like that too but she felt that happened in the north to other tribes. Certainly not to the children of the “Civilized Tribes.” I’m sure those deeds are arguable, but I know this: Mrs. McCoy was way ahead of the rest of us in language, grace and education. I may have another “Indian” story next week.

Go to church Sunday.

Wayne Bullard, DPh cwaynebullard@gmail.com