Steeped In History...
It all began in 1944 when Ralph Charles Walter and Bill Copeland began a side business installing venetian blinds, which eventually expanded into aluminum window installation.
Realizing that the side business was more demanding than originally planned, R.C. and Copeland made their services a formal business on March 14, 1946 with the name of “C & W Home Modernizing.”
More services were eventually added to the C & W Home Modernizing, such as roof repair, downspout repair, insulbrick siding, and gutter replacement. The company’s success and rapid expansion led to renting a warehouse located in Greenock, Pennsylvania to store roofing materials.
In 1951, Ralph Charles bought out the company and changed the name to R.C. Walter Roofing and Siding. The Walter family, including R.C. Walter’s wife, Anna Matilda Rainey Walter as secretary, and their two sons, Robert N. Walter and R. C Walter Jr. as employees, structured the company.
Shortly after the purchase, the warehouse began deteriorating and the business was then conducted in a home purchased at the current location on Boston Hollow Road. However, two years after conducting business on Boston Hollow, the home burnt down and plans were created for a new building, which still is a part of the store today.
In 1956, the business location on Boston Hollow Road, originally a warehouse, started to morph into a small retail shop for basic hardware supplies. With this transition, R.C. had to purchase a warehouse in Greenock to transfer roofing materials into that building and keep the new building as a retail outlet.
Keeping up with the trend, business grew faster than expected and additions to the building were made in both 1962 and 1963 to house the materials.
Shortly thereafter, in 1966, R.C. Walter and Sons joined "American Hardware" and changed its name to “R.C. Walter and Sons, Inc.” Subsequently, in 1978, R.C. Walter and Sons became "ServiStar" certified. At this time, two separate businesses were being run under the same name—a roofing company headed by Robert N. Walter and a hardware retail store headed by R.C. Walter Jr.
The newest, biggest addition was added in 1972 with R.C. Walter Sr. having doubts changing the wall of the old building and installing a beam. Ken Murtha laid the tile floor, Bill and Bob Howell did the wiring, and Ron Sedlar did the carpentry work for the trim, stairway, and fire escape.
Finally, in 1973, the hardware store was complete the way it stands today. The employees were officially able to complete their first real display decorated with gondolas.
Many innovative changes were being made to the hardware store throughout the years, such as the application of computerized paychecks (1981) and AT&T telephone system (1984). Most importantly, though, was the implementation of an ABC computer system in 1988 through ServiStar that facilitated inventory count and easily created several accounting documents.
Not only was the accounting department being revamped, but also the marketing of the hardware business. For in 1990, R.C. Walter and Sons began their direct mail circulars and still today continue to utilize this technique to advertise to customers.
In 1992 Robert N. Walter sold the roofing business to Mr. Brian Merten, which marked the retirement of Robert N. Walter. However, after this transaction Robert N. Walter continued to work part time at R.C. Walter and Sons’s hardware retail store.
Again in 1997, the association with R.C. Walter and Sons changed. ServiStar merged with True Value to become TrueServe. This merge gave all independently owned hardware stores an opportunity to fend off industry giants.
The business was purchased in 2007 by Tom Walter (current owner) when his Uncle, Charles Walter, retired the same year.
Currently, the store is still a True Value franchise and Tom continues to run the store with the help of his family; brother, Reverend Paul Walter, and son, Mathew Walter, who marks the fourth generation of the Walter family to be in the hardware business.
Plans are in the works to continue to improve and expand the store or opening a second store sometime in the future. "
Realizing that the side business was more demanding than originally planned, R.C. and Copeland made their services a formal business on March 14, 1946 with the name of “C & W Home Modernizing.”
More services were eventually added to the C & W Home Modernizing, such as roof repair, downspout repair, insulbrick siding, and gutter replacement. The company’s success and rapid expansion led to renting a warehouse located in Greenock, Pennsylvania to store roofing materials.
In 1951, Ralph Charles bought out the company and changed the name to R.C. Walter Roofing and Siding. The Walter family, including R.C. Walter’s wife, Anna Matilda Rainey Walter as secretary, and their two sons, Robert N. Walter and R. C Walter Jr. as employees, structured the company.
Shortly after the purchase, the warehouse began deteriorating and the business was then conducted in a home purchased at the current location on Boston Hollow Road. However, two years after conducting business on Boston Hollow, the home burnt down and plans were created for a new building, which still is a part of the store today.
In 1956, the business location on Boston Hollow Road, originally a warehouse, started to morph into a small retail shop for basic hardware supplies. With this transition, R.C. had to purchase a warehouse in Greenock to transfer roofing materials into that building and keep the new building as a retail outlet.
Keeping up with the trend, business grew faster than expected and additions to the building were made in both 1962 and 1963 to house the materials.
Shortly thereafter, in 1966, R.C. Walter and Sons joined "American Hardware" and changed its name to “R.C. Walter and Sons, Inc.” Subsequently, in 1978, R.C. Walter and Sons became "ServiStar" certified. At this time, two separate businesses were being run under the same name—a roofing company headed by Robert N. Walter and a hardware retail store headed by R.C. Walter Jr.
The newest, biggest addition was added in 1972 with R.C. Walter Sr. having doubts changing the wall of the old building and installing a beam. Ken Murtha laid the tile floor, Bill and Bob Howell did the wiring, and Ron Sedlar did the carpentry work for the trim, stairway, and fire escape.
Finally, in 1973, the hardware store was complete the way it stands today. The employees were officially able to complete their first real display decorated with gondolas.
Many innovative changes were being made to the hardware store throughout the years, such as the application of computerized paychecks (1981) and AT&T telephone system (1984). Most importantly, though, was the implementation of an ABC computer system in 1988 through ServiStar that facilitated inventory count and easily created several accounting documents.
Not only was the accounting department being revamped, but also the marketing of the hardware business. For in 1990, R.C. Walter and Sons began their direct mail circulars and still today continue to utilize this technique to advertise to customers.
In 1992 Robert N. Walter sold the roofing business to Mr. Brian Merten, which marked the retirement of Robert N. Walter. However, after this transaction Robert N. Walter continued to work part time at R.C. Walter and Sons’s hardware retail store.
Again in 1997, the association with R.C. Walter and Sons changed. ServiStar merged with True Value to become TrueServe. This merge gave all independently owned hardware stores an opportunity to fend off industry giants.
The business was purchased in 2007 by Tom Walter (current owner) when his Uncle, Charles Walter, retired the same year.
Currently, the store is still a True Value franchise and Tom continues to run the store with the help of his family; brother, Reverend Paul Walter, and son, Mathew Walter, who marks the fourth generation of the Walter family to be in the hardware business.
Plans are in the works to continue to improve and expand the store or opening a second store sometime in the future. "
