Wallace Hardware

By Ralph Toalston

The Wallace Hardware opened in East Canton one hundred years ago on April 1, 1922. The owner was Vern C. Wallace. Mr. Wallace was born July 13, 1892, in Carroll County. He married Wilma Roof on June 14, 1921. They were the parents of Joan R. (Wallace) Toalston and Grace E. (Wallace) Zahler. Mr. Wallace was a WWI veteran, a member of Church of the Savior United Methodist (now Crossroads UM), Julliard Lodge F&AM #460 and American Legion Post 667.

Wallace Hardware was located at 109 Nassau St. W. The building was purchased in 1922 from Dr. Schuffell. While Mr. Wallace managed the hardware, the original owners were Charles A. Shreve, Frank Nelson, and Mr. Wallace. He assumed sole ownership in 1936. He received recognition from the George Worthington Wholesale Hardware Co. in Cleveland for his excellent credit rating during the depression years.

Several times he was a deputy registrar for motor vehicles – selling annual automobile license renewals at the hardware. He also sold hunting, fishing, and dog licenses. A thought frequently expressed by area residents was, “If you can’t find it anywhere else, you can find it at Wallace Hardware.”

Mr. Wallace served the Village of East Canton as treasurer from 1930-1933. In 1936, he was appointed postmaster. His first post office was located on East Nassau St. In 1942, he bought a shoemaker’s shop, owned by Charles Reibenstein, at 119 Nassau St. W. He remodeled it and operated the post office there until 1956. In 1956, he built a new post office building on the site of the old building and leased it to the post office department. When Mr. Wallace retired in 1956, the East Canton Post Office formally became a branch of the Canton Post Office.

Mr. Wallace continued the operation of the Wallace Hardware until Jan. 1, 1973, when his grandson, Paul Toalston, assumed ownership. In 1977, the back half of the building was torn down and replaced with a larger structure. Brick was added to the front exterior of the building in 1982. Paul Toalston continued to operate the hardware until Aug. 1993.

Mr. Wallace died on June 23, 1974, at the age of 81, from injuries received from an auto/pedestrian accident on Nov. 15, 1973.

Source: Osnaburg Township 1804-1976.

Info not in the Osnaburg History came from my memory.

3/24/2022