Destinations Magazine

Wakarusa Hardware Store: Wall of Drawers

By Jessicanunemaker @JessNunemaker

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Wakarusa Pro Hardware in Wakarusa, Indiana

Wakarusa Pro Hardware in Wakarusa, Indiana

I can hear what you are thinking, “Wakarusa, Indiana? A Hardware Store? You want us to visit a hardware store?”

This isn’t just a hardware store. Okay, it is just a hardware store, however–it’s a neat one!

Wakarusa Pro Hardware Store

Since the business began, this building has been a hardware store. You know, back at the turn of the century.

That in itself is amazing but what makes it something you should make a point to go see is because of what is inside the building.

Drawers. There are drawers and drawers and more drawers. A whole entire wall of floor to ceiling drawers containing loose items and smaller packaged things.

How do you get to all those drawers? Well, that’s what the tall, narrow, original to the building ladder is for!

Wakarusa Pro Hardware in Wakarusa, Indiana

Wakarusa Pro Hardware in Wakarusa, Indiana

Up The Tall Ladder

The men at Wakarusa Pro Hardware asked me if I wanted to climb the ladder for a better shot.

Yes, the one hundred year old, super narrow, super tall, ladder.

little Indiana is afraid of heights. As in, knee knocking, can’t move, afraid of anything more than a couple feet off the ground. Hubs offered to do it for me.

But–little Indiana has a passion for, well, little Indiana.

If I get a chance to do or see something that I know would wow all of you? Then, by golly, I have to try!

View At The Top

Each drawer has a story to tell. After one hundred years of use in this small Indiana town, there’s many signs of life.

Some drawers have the item attached to the outside of the drawer. Others have black marker scrawled across the top for good measure.

Wakarusa Pro Hardware in Wakarusa, Indiana: Up The Long Ladder

Wakarusa Pro Hardware in Wakarusa, Indiana: Up The Long Ladder

Masking tape and various colors of marker also hint at  the contents found therein.

Step Back in Time

While a hardware store isn’t the place I’d normally go for browsing, in Wakarusa, Indiana? It becomes an attraction–and a remarkable piece of Indiana history.

See more Wakarusa, Indiana images and other pictures in Indiana on my Flickr photostream.

Wakarusa Pro Hardware Store
108 S. Elkhart St.
P.O. Box 382
Wakarusa, Indiana 46573
574.862.2775

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