BARNHILL, Hornaday, Pickett - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Jerry was working on an article for this month’s feature and got puny, then passed his research and information on to me to do with … whatever. My whatever became this article, featuring one of the more impressive establishments in Crawfordsville but one that is oddly, rarely spoken nor can I find a written account. So, here ya’ go – Barnhill, Hornady & Pickett’s in the annals of time, right here, right now!

The prelim to this store dates back to the mid-1870s with Hadley & Hornaday Groceries. George W. Hadley, a devout birth-right Quaker (later turning Methodist) was just at the age of 20 when he went into business with Lewis Frederick Hornaday, about the same age, George slightly older than Lewis, who was then and remained L.F. Hornaday. Lewis evidently wore a beat-up old hat and after Christmas one cold day in January, his friends (75 of ‘em) threw his hat away and presented him with a new “and neat beaver!” There were many speeches and much camaraderie and Lew made quite a presentation of tossing the old one away! Besides some silliness and fun, the only action in this store was Groceries, although it was a wholesale as well as retail business. It was on the corner of Green and Market Street, and continued for about a half decade, until Hadley purchased a store on Main from William H. Lynn, who had a “swarm of clerks” to accommodate the customers. About five years later, Hadley moved to Anderson, Indiana where he ran a wholesale/retail grocery there for about 30 years, eventually building a second place featuring meat. He remained in this adopted city his whole life. Death brought in 1914, as he died January the first and is buried in that city.

Hornaday would go on to big things in the community, and one needs to know that there was stiff competition with many department store/groceries and stand-alone grocery stores, as well. The firm of Barnhill, Hornaday & Pickett began about the same time as George purchased his own store from Lynn, and grew to immensity. Pickett’s sister, Emma was married to Hornaday and they are found in several census records, side by side. Pickett too was a Quaker, but it seems the men all became devout Methodists in their early married lives.

Could be wrong, but my guess is the call to the store was due to creative advertising and interesting happenings of the store. In 1889, for several months and on into the next year they purported to “Sell you MORE goods for one Dollar than any other house in Crawfordsville,” and went on to challenge those reading their ad, to “come and see for yourself, if you don’t believe it!”

Another year for a Horse Show, they gave a set of chairs for the best general purpose award. In 1890, there must have been an influx of fruit, as they were selling Bellflower apples (which originated in the 1700s in New Jersey). They are thick-skinned and still popular today. The Baldwin apple they specialized in was especially geared toward making hard apple cider so it was quite the popular sale. At the first annual Chrysanthemum Show in late 1894, BHP gave away a polished oak rocker and cobbler’s seat for a prize. No first name but “Mrs. Barnhill” (suspicion this is the undertaker’s wife and I thought her wins were about perfect) won a Black Silk Dress that was valued at $2.50 from McClure & Graham’s store,” as well as the prize from BHP, add the pound of Light of Asia Tea from Lees Grocery and a cabinet photograph frame, she made quite the killing at the show. Not sure if they ever had another, though, but bet “Mrs.” Barnhill would have wiped out those prizes, too!

BHP began specializing in furnaces with Barnhill at the head of that department. Supposedly, he was one of the heating experts “of more than ordinary ability,” for miles around. They added furniture, stone and queensware appointing Hornaday at its helm, then as you’ve figured, the groceries were with Pickett’s knowledge heading it in a different direction of delivery with “four wagons necessary to accommodate the large patronage.” Besides these three men who did some travelling and bargaining, there were several clerks as well. “Messrs. Barnhill, Hornady & Pickett have enjoyed a large experience with their trade and in the management of the different departments, they pursue the most systematic methods!”

Remember, I told you they were pretty creative, well, for their Christmas supper, late in the year of 1893, we read from the Crawfordsville Daily Journal that, “the attaches of BH&P participated in a sumptuous possum supper after business hours. The feast was presided over by Andrew Jones, whose executive ability is of high order!” Personally, I’m thinking that if I worked at the store at that time, I’d have skipped that get together.

Walter C. Pickett was a twin (to Ella), born the 24th of January 1860 in Penn Township, Parke County where a much smaller group of Quakers are still active today. Rev. G.W. Green married he and Jessie VanSickle (who lived to be slightly shy of 95 years old) in mid-November 1891 in Crawfordsville. None of the three men had large families. Walter and Jessie had two children. Daughter Kathryn, who never married, was quite active in life, retiring as Women’s Editor of the Indianapolis Star and their son, Walter Nathan VanSickle Pickett (born on Halloween in 1907), I believe became a doctor in Indianapolis. He had a son and daughter, as well. The Picketts had a servant for many years, as did the other partners, and lived in some of the nicest homes in Crawfordsville. Obviously, these fellows knew what they were doing in the merchandising world. If you’ve looked at many old newspapers and pictures, you’ll also notice the super festive viewpoint – the three men obviously wanted to make their front piece inviting to the public. Move over Bischof’s Big Store, the boys were meanin’ to outfox ya’, calling in their customers with coax-galore!

A May 1896 ad was an eye-catcher with little flowery stems surrounding it and titled, “A Dandy Time To Buy!” Items such as a fine, Oak bedroom set was selling for just $15. Several of their ads would have challenges or specific comments, “We want to say that we will duplicate any prices that are named; no difference what they are.” Friendly, come on in items cropped up like, “Make our store your headquarters.” One item I wish was still around (or at least it sounds amazing and we sure need a new one) “Do not fail to see our Felt Mattresses… no equal!” Prices, quantity and quality were said to be possible because the three partners didn’t take their discounts off but gave their patrons the direct benefit of the low prices.

One item that plagued the store, however, was its name. Now, think about it. The local C’ville wife in 1890 requests her husband to drive her downtown to, “Barnhill, Hornaday & Pickett’s.” A man wants to buy a rocker and some cigars so tells his father who just moved in with him and is about to have his 80th birthday that he is going shopping at “Barnhill, Hornaday & Pickett’s.” Yes, the name was definitely an annoyance, and people couldn’t just say they were going to the store as there were several downtown, and they of course could not just send a text. So, basically, BH&P purported that “for groceries, we are headquarters in ALL lines!”- Corner of Main & Water Sts. As that for a time they changed the name to My Store, which did not catch on at all.

Mainly, the store advertised their groceries in a large ad with parts of it going to the furniture and Queensware. Occasionally something special would take precedent as in an August, 1901, catchy ad with a rocking chair. They had 60 that would be sold for $2.00 apiece (while they lasted), a bargain like no other. Loved their comment, “We display all of our furniture on the 2nd floor, away from the dust of the street.” Their furniture, stoves, crockery, groceries and other items placed the wares house “in a front rank position,” and they did indeed have a large patronage. “The premises at 119-121 East Main was large and “very handsomely arranged.” They purported to have the best assortment of not only domestic goods but imported ones, as well. “The house can fully warrant to be exactly as represented.” Unsure of when the store closed, around 1914 there certainly was a name change, when Emily (Pickett) Hornaday and Walter C. Pickett’s nephew, Warren N. Ayres purchased into the store. Thus, it was called Hornaday, Pickett and Ayres. Their sister, Ida Pickett Ayres died when Warren was five, and he was lucky enough to be raised by Emma and Lewis Hornaday, with Pickett keeping a close watch and giving lots of love, as well. Hornaday’s had no children while Picketts had at least seven (Barnhill had four). However, when Warren passed away in 1919, leaving his wife, Ruth and two children (after a lengthy sickness with heart trouble and severe arthritis), the oomph kind of went out of those who owned and worked at the store. “The boys” were also advancing in years, but for decades, this great store which sat where the Ben Hur building is (I think) was impressive, well-ran and aimed to please!

Note: Just two days after this came out in the MM, I found the actual beginning of Hadley & Hornaday in December of 1876 (Saturday Mercury – 11 Dec) – The opening and reception given by Hadley & Hornaday at their grocery establishment last week was a brilliant success. Notwithstanding the bad weather, the crowd was immense and everybody seemed please with the fine display and the hospitable manner in which they were treated by the proprietors and their cleaver and popular salesman, Henry Sloan – figures ?? Worth the wait, though!