2021 September 17

CONTINUED FROM YESTERDAY

The next building of interest to me was the hardware. Other than the movie theater, the hardware was the largest building on Main Street. At that young age I had never heard the word cacophony. But that is the perfect word to describe the hardware. The cowbell at the door was the quietest sound in the store. I remember the sound of scoop loads of nails, or nuts and bolts being tossed onto galvanized trays hanging from scales that screeched in protest of another load of hardware.

Everything banged or clattered which made people raise their voices to get their message across. That had the net affect of causing other people to talk louder to be heard over the first folks. The sharp ring of the cash register, as the drawer was opened, was at odds with the dull clunk of the cowbell as another person entered or left.

TO BE CONTINUED