Service, Friendliness At F.P. Morgan’s Hardware

The latest Commitment to Waterville Award from Waterville First went to Morgan’s Hardware Store.

Owner Tom Morgan and several family members attended a Waterville First reception at the Waterville Historical Society where the award was given.

Assemblyman Brian Miller also attended and recognized the three-generation family business as a historic business in New York state.

WF President Brian Bogan read the following and John Brouillette made the presentation: Frank P. Morgan started a hardware and farm supply store in Waterville in 1928 in a portion of McLean’s general store on Main Street.

In 1932 he bought that building at 108 Main St.

He continued to offer general goods along with his hardware and farm supplies.

The store sold items in the store, but customers could also order off of catalogs from places such as John Deere and furniture and mattress stores.

His children helped him in the store.

When son James returned from the Korean War, he went to work full time in the store.

Frank Morgan passed away July 4, 1970 and son James took over the ownership.

He was helped by his sister, Honey Morgan, and his children from a young age.

Instrumental in the success of the store was his wife, Ronnie.

Ronnie had grown up in Niagara Falls and had worked in a supply store there. She brought new ideas to Waterville and Morgan’s.

These included added pegboards to the walls, rather than driving in a nail every ...