Compton's Hardware

Last Thursday the light in my refrigerator went out... Looking for your food with a flashlight is no way to live.  Since I worked in Tipton today I decided to visit my favorite hardware store to replace the bulb.

Compton's Hardware is in an old brick building on the main drag, and when you walk inside, you walk into the past.  The rough wooden floors are ancient and the air smells like dust.  The shelves and walls are crowded... packed full of inventory, some of which I'm sure dates back to the 50's... maybe earlier. 

I walked up to the old guy behind the bench and handed him the burned out bulb.  I followed him as he shuffled a couple aisles over and he handed me the replacement.  $1.35

My plastic bucket split open earlier this summer, so I asked him if he had a bucket that would last me the rest of my life.  I followed him to a table where he handed me a metal bucket with a heavy steel handle.  $11.49

The bulb was $1.35 and the bucket was $11.49, so naturally my total bill was 12 dollars even.

Tipton sports a lone strip mall which features an ACE hardware store with bright lights and a clean linoleum floor.  The inventory is well organized and I'm sure the stock is rotated efficiently.  But there is no romance... No ambiance that transports you back in time.

If you ever find yourself in rural Tipton, Indiana... Do yourself a favor...

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