Sevierville

Sevierville. Sevierville Hardware. The Trotter and Seaton Hardware was established in the late 1800s by Lewis Trotter and Pinkney P. Seaton. In the first two decades, the business was located at several downtown addresses. Founder, Lewis Trotter, died in 1905 and his heirs sold his interest and subsequent shareholders came and went over the years following his death. , , On October 14, 1914, Pinkney Scaton, M.P. Thomas, Jr., Paul Murphy and Ed Emert constructed the building at 128 Court Avenue. Built on the, southside of the original town ditch that once defined the southern city limits, the building was a large modern two-story brick structure. The fixtures installed were of the latest style, which included rolling ladders, scales and wall drawers for small items. , , Paul Murphy sold his interest to Ray C. Sharp in 1917 and went off to serve in World War I. Pinkney Scaton died in 1918. Under the leadership of Ed Emert, M.P. Thomas, Jr. and Ray C. Sharp the Sevierville Hardware flourished. Residents from rural parts of the county came to purchase F. Hammer Paint, McCormick Harvesting Machinery, Ajax Stock Fencing, Greener Action Break Loading Shotguns and Duro Wear Cooking products. , , In 1936, the Hardware purchased a large two-story building on the southwest corner of Bruce Street and Court Avenue. The business sold International Harvesting Company products for several years. In the ensuing years , Ed Emert and M.P. Thomas, Sr. passed on and Ray Sharp sold his interest. , , Rowena Emert Schmutzer inherited her father's share of the business and her husband Alfred Schmutzer, Sr. took over the management of the hardware. A native of Washington, D.C., Schmutzer was not immediately accepted by the customers and was the victim of a lot of good-natured ribbing and numerous practical jokes. Schmutzer persevered and in a few years was a highly respected merchant. After Schmetzer's death, the inventory was sold, and the building was given a facelift due to it sinking a foot from being built by the old town ditch. Each brick was removed, and the edifice was structurally rectified. , [Captions:] , International Harvester Promotion Day at Servierville Hardware in 1929. , , J. Edgar Emery seated at his desk in the Sevierville Hardware. , , The Sevierville Hardware in 1929. Left to right are its owners: Ray Sharp, M.P. Thomas, Jr., and Ed Emert. , , A parade passes in front of the Sevierville Hardware in 1957.