Bristol man found success with hardware store

Early in her history, Bristol became somewhat of a wholesale center. 
Permanent among firms offering various kinds of merchandise were those supplying hardware.  One of the largest of this latter category was long known as the Interstate Hardware and Supply Company. 
This business began as the Virginia/Tennessee Hardware Company. Its first location was at 506-510 State St. in downtown Bristol, Tenn. By 1910, it had moved to a new and larger building that had been erected by James and his brother Riley Stone at 200-210 State St. This was the entire block, though short it was, through 2nd Street and 3rd. 
This company was bought in January 1912 by a group comprised of several local, prominent businessmen. It was renamed Interstate Hardware and Supply Company. 
Over the following years, several young men joined the firm and a few, by long and faithful service, finally became leaders in this firm. I will tell of one of them here, one Charles Ben Moore Sr.
Mr. Moore was born near Telford, Washington County, Tenn., in 1889. He was a son of Campbell and Etta Wine Moore. She was of the southern Sullivan County family of that name. 
Charlie Ben Moore grew up on the family farm laboring hard at tasks so much a part of a farmer’s life. In summer heat and winter cold, he persisted in the duties expected of him. This persistence, under trying conditions, would later prove to be a benefit to him when he was in the hardware business. 
However, young Mr. Moore determined, while still a youth, that he would not remain on the farm. Like this writer who was also reared on a farm, he could see no fulfilling future as a farmer, so decided to make other pursuits. 
Early, he became a student in Tusculum College near Greeneville, Tenn. But then came World War I. He became a soldier in this notable, international conflict. Then, home from the war, he decided to seek his future and fortune in Bristol.
Here, he found his first lodging and boarding place with Belle Sullivan at 315 7th St. Mrs. Sullivan long operated this place of boarding, and the house still stands, although now it is unoccupied. 
He soon found employment with the Interstate Hardware Company before mentioned. At first, he rode a bicycle from Mrs. Sullivan’s to his workplace. She always fixed him a nice lunch to take with him.
After two or three years of proving himself, he became a salesman for this company. He was given western North Carolina as his territory. He would spend two weeks traveling to stores in his field, then return to Bristol. Much of his early travel was done on rented horses.
In 1923, he married Stella Rebecca St. John, whose family operated a milling company near Thomas Bridge in Sullivan County, Tenn. The couple moved into the former P. M. Cody home at 621 Anderson St. Their only child was born in 1925. This is Charles B. Moore Jr. who was the last child born in old St. Luke’s Hospital and the first to occupy the nursery in the then new Kings Mountain Hospital. 
In 1935, the Moores bought and moved to the former Dr. Chappell home at 900 7th Ave. in Bristol, Tenn. This home is now occupied by their only son and his wife.
As the years passed, C. B. Moore worked his way to the top in the management of the Interstate Hardware and Supply Company. He was totally devoted to his work. His son recently told me that his father didn’t think the sun would rise unless he had the doors of the business open by 7 a.m. 
He was happy at his work. He never seemed to tire of it, and he would never think of taking a vacation. His son once took his parents to see the ocean near Jacksonville, Fla. Neither had ever seen it.
They arrived in the night. Next morning, they took one look at the ocean. His mother remarked “It is sure a lot of water, isn’t it?” and his father said, “Well, I guess we better return home and go back to work.” 
That one little vacation consisted entirely of the travel to Jacksonville, a few minutes at the oceanside and then the trip back.
It was Mr. Moore’s hope that his son would someday take over the business. But, the time came when Interstate Hardware could no longer compete with the larger chain stores that moved to Bristol, and it soon closed. 
Charles Ben Moore Sr. died June 14, 1962. His wife followed on April 18, 1969. They are buried in the Glenwood Cemetery, Bristol, Tenn. 

BUD PHILLIPS is a local historian and author. He can be reached at (276) 466-6435.