Jeffery’s Hardware, one of Midland’s oldest businesses, is shutting its doors at the end of the month.
Owner Shari Miller inherited the business at 526 Dominion Avenue when her father Ron Jeffery passed away in 2022.
“The business started in 1901 with my great-great-grandfather, so I’m the sixth generation,” Miller explains. “From 1901 to 1958, we were on King Street; in 1959 we moved here.”
The Jeffrey Block was the historic name given to the original location of the hardware store, started by Fredric William Jeffery and sons at the corner of King Street and Dominion Avenue.
The current location at the corner of Dominion Avenue and First Street was built in 1959 under the ownership of Miller’s grandfather, William Jeffery, who had taken over the business from his brother Edward. When William retired, he handed the reins to his son Ron Jeffery.
“Dad was a big steamship guy,” Miller says, pointing out the numerous hung photographs of steamships in the main office. An additional pegboard near the cash register was ornamented with further photos of steamships, nautical measurement devices and calendars of Jeffery’s Hardware throughout the past century.
“Over the years it’s been me, my dad and my daughter,” said Miller, who had been involved with running the hardware store for roughly 35 years. “We’ve had off-and-on staff over the years. Lately, it’s just been me with my daughter helping out when she’s home.”
Miller gave her reason for closing the doors on November 30th as being worn out from retail. While not knowing what would be ahead for her, she was confident it would be a fresh change of pace. To one curious customer, Miller admitted she was “winging it.”
Several customers continued to enter during the interview, purchasing from the store’s remaining items listed at 50 per cent off. Miller’s pet dog Reba barked in attention with whatever caught her keen eye.
Some customers had been bringing Miller small thank-you gifts and presents since the out-of-business announcement, which she was shy to accept.
Miller couldn’t remember any interesting tales or customers when asked, stating that her father would have been the one for those stories.
However, she did say that in the past few years, caring for a goat from her farm had been something she had done in the store with the goat resting behind the main counter.
Antiquated hardware such as lumber saws, augers, scale rules and more adorned the upper walls above the merchandise.
“My dad collected them, he enjoyed that. I’m not sure what I’m doing with them yet,” Miller says.
The loss of Jeffery’s Hardware will mean loyal customers will need to find another place for their supplies.
“They’re going to have to go somewhere, but I’m not sure where. A lot of (my customers) don’t like big box stores,” she says. “They ask me the same question: ‘Where am I going to go?’ I don’t know.
“I’m going to miss them… and the long chats with a lot of my customers. It’s a sad day after so many years, but none of the kids after me want it,” Miller shares.
As parting words for those who had shopped at Jeffery’s Hardware, Miller simply says: “Thanks for the business over the years.”
