[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 161 (Friday, September 28, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1343-E1344]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       IN HONOR OF THE 130TH ANNIVERSARY OF SOLENBERGER HARDWARE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. BARBARA COMSTOCK

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 28, 2018

  Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and celebrate the 
130th anniversary of Solenberger Hardware of Winchester, Virginia. 
Solenberger Hardware is truly the classic story of American 
entrepreneurialism, a story of humble beginnings, of overcoming 
adversity and adapting to new circumstances.
  On the occasion of the company's anniversary celebration, a large, 
beautiful historical mural about the company has been completed that 
includes portraits of past company leaders and an illustration of the 
original store. The mural highlights one biblical expression to 
summarize those 130 years: ``Do to Others What You Would Have Them Do 
to You.'' This high standard of trustworthiness and loyalty, that was 
developed by each of the company's leaders, is what has set Solenberger 
Hardware apart. John S. Solenberger, the founder of the store in 1888, 
made a significant contribution to this corporate culture when, during 
the Great Depression, he promised his employees that he would keep them 
working and on the payroll, and paid in cash. Herbert Solenberger, of 
the following generation, treated the store's customers with such 
integrity that, if he found that the store had short-changed a 
customer, he would personally seek out the customer to repay him or 
her. And Herbert's brother, Hugh, developed a standard of customer 
service that involved training employees to be experts about the 
store's products and services, always approaching their work with the 
customer's best interest in mind.
  Such extraordinary loyalty and trustworthiness have always been 
extended to the larger community, as well. The 1960s and 1970s were 
times of racial unrest in Winchester and John T. Solenberger, Hugh's 
son, expressed loyalty to an African-American employee by promoting him 
to a management position in the company, based on his merits, without 
being thwarted by any concerns he may have had for how such a decision 
might affect their business. Additionally, Solenberger Hardware 
annually hosts fundraising events to benefit the Winchester Area 
Temporary Thermal Shelter and the Winchester Rescue Mission.
  Another tradition contributing to Solenberger Hardware's resilience 
has been its passion for change and innovation, starting with John S.'s 
modifying the very nature of the Solenberger business, to current 
leaders John, Jr. and Cyndi Solenberger's move of the store to a place 
offering greater access to the customer.

[[Page E1344]]

The attitude of the Solenberger family has been that adversity 
generates change and that change is to be welcomed and encouraged.
  After 130 years, can the Solenberger legacy be continued? John, Jr. 
and Cyndi consider themselves stewards of a business that they want to 
pass on to the next generations, and they are now training and 
mentoring Seth McManigle and Jaime Solenberger-McManigle as leadership 
partners of the future. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and our colleagues 
join me in congratulating the owners and employees of Solenberger 
Hardware for celebrating 130 years of success and express the hope 
that, with God's grace, the company will continue its legacy of success 
as an extraordinary corporate citizen, serving the northern Shenandoah 
Valley, for many years to come.

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