[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Page 8931]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             RECOGNIZING TOWLE'S HARDWARE AND LUMBER STORE

 Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, while our efforts here in Washington 
regarding small business are often focused on how to help start new 
companies, our economy also relies on those small firms which have been 
in operation for generation after generation. One such small business, 
Towle's Hardware & Lumber Store in Dixfield, this week celebrates its 
100th anniversary. Today I commend Towle's for its remarkable 
achievement and highlight its tremendous story.
  Towle's Hardware and Lumber Store opened its doors in 1911 as C.H. 
Towle's Hardware, when Charles Towle purchased the former Stockbridge 
Hardware Store on Weld Street in Dixfield. At that time, Towle's 
offered its customers a wide variety of basic necessities, from paint, 
lumber, and tools, to cast iron stoves, electric and gas refrigerators, 
and even John Deere tractors.
  The Towle family considers the company's long-term success and 
longevity as byproducts of its work ethic, attention to customer 
service, and decision to sell quality products at reasonable prices. 
Indeed, over the years, the business has expanded in size, installed an 
elevator, and opened a package shipping operation in the 1980s. In the 
1960s, Towle's joined American Hardware, one of the Nation's earlier 
co-operative hardware companies, and to this day it remains a member of 
True Value, with which American Hardware later merged. In 2008, Towle's 
Hardware moved into a new 6,000-square-foot location just a few yards 
from the old location. That same year the family also opened the 
Towle's Corner Store to serve the community in even more ways.
  This week, Towle's is holding a week-long celebration of the 
company's centennial. Events include free product giveaways, raffles 
for Towle's gift certificates and other prizes, and a recognition 
ceremony for the company, which includes the presentation of a special 
plaque to Towle's in honor of its centennial by officials from the town 
of Dixfield and True Value.
  Small businesses like Towle's Hardware are the heart and soul of our 
Nation's communities. Main Streets across America are chock full of 
restaurants, grocery stores, and shopping boutiques which provide 
citizens with the goods and wares they need. Towle's Hardware and 
Lumber is a prime example of a small business that has persevered 
through turbulent economic times--from the Great Depression to the most 
recent recession--time and time again. I congratulate everyone at 
Towle's for their major milestone and wish them many more years of 
accomplishment.

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