Dabneys

     Another of De Leon’s venerated institutions recently closed.  Dabney Hardware had been in business in De Leon for over 110 years.  Ebb E. Dabney began the business in 1895 with a saddle and harness shop.  He eventually began dealing in buggies and ultimately converted to hardware.  The store started where it finished.  It began in a frame building located at 164 Texas Avenue and ended at the same location but in a two story brick building built in 1919.

     Like many De Leon merchants, Dabney began his retail career working for Higginbothams.  He had moved with his parents Mr. and Mrs. P.J. Dabney from Mount Cam to Desdemona.  His father went to work for Higginbothams Lumber yard in 1892 and Ebb followed thereafter.

      In March of 1895 he leased a lot (now 164 N. Texas) and built a small frame building where he began his saddle and leather goods business.  A year later he purchased the site for $100 down and $100 per year for four additional years and employed a good saddle maker to help out.

      In 1896 Dabney began stocking a line of moon buggies and made additions to the building.  In February 1908, he purchased the hardware and tin stock from Mr. C.R. Ayers, who continued to operate the undertaking business. The buggy business was dropped in 1910 and the saddle and accessories were discontinued in 1913.  After oil was discovered in Desdemona in 1918 Mr. Dabney moved his stock to the Streety (Smiths/Franks) building and constructed a new two story facility on the original site.  During the boom, Dabney Hardware, Inc. was formed with Ed Griffith and J.D. Spencer as partners (other sources say a Mr. Largent).  During that partnership, the store branched out to Stephenville, Rising Star and Desdemona which had two locations.  After two years, Dabney bought out his partners and with the boom ended, closed all the stores except for De Leon to avoid bankruptcy.

      In 1927 Mr. Dabney sold the store to H. Grady Terrill, J.W. “Wes” Shook, and R.L. Scott who operated it as De Leon Hardware and Furniture Co. for two years after which Mr. Dabney again repurchased the store.   Mr. Dabney owned the store until his death in 1942 (1866-1942) and his widow continued to own the store until her death in 1961.  Its stock was purchased by Carl Simpson in late 1963.

      Carl Simpson first became involved with Dabney’s while barbering.  While getting a shave from Simpson, Mr. Dabney asked him if he would be interested in working for him.  It was 1930 and business was bad and the barbering business was getting worse.  He accepted the offer and remained with the store until his death.  The depression years were tough and the store nearly closed.  The inventory contracted to only a third of what it had been.  But things began to turn around and from 1943 to 1950 the store prospered.

      Carl pioneered television in De Leon.  His furniture salesman talked him into getting a set so they could test it when a station came on out of Fort Worth in 1948.  Dabney’s exhibited the 8 or 9 inch screen at the Peach and Melon Festival that summer but there was nothing but a blank picture since there were no stations operating in the state.  (The first television broadcast in Texas was of a speech by President Harry Truman by WBAP TV in Fort Worth, where the president was making a campaign stop.)  Television sales were a critical part of the business from 1955 until 1960.  Simpson sold, installed and repaired television sets, and antennas.

     After managing the store for any years, Simpson bought the stock in late 1963.  In 1971 he sold the store to his son Bobby Carl who operated it until his death.  In the 1952 the store took in the building to the north which had previously been the location of Bibby’s followed by Blacks Cafe.  By 1970 the store to the south had been acquired. 

     Following the death of Bobby Carl, the store’s closed, ending a 110 year run.

     E.E. Dabney’s home was located on one of the lots now occupied by the city hall.  He later built the house at 300 W. Labadie.

Sources: Free Press June 28, 1929, Centennial Issue July 2, 1981, Mrs. Ida M Dabney interview 1955.

E.E. Dabney Hardware and Furniture about 1946.  Dabney’s would eventually take over the building to the right which was occupied by Bibbys and the building to the left which was occupied by Howell’s Mens Store.

   In 1900 Dabney’s sold saddles and related merchandise like the buggy whips on the left and the stirrups mounted on the counter on the right, pails, lanterns, shovels, axes and handles.  Pictured here are Ebb E. Dabney on the right, A.C. Martin on the from left and probably Nute Koonce next to Martin.  The two men in the center are unidentified.

   Bun Martin on the left and Ebb Dabney on the right in the store in 1905.    Notice the shift to more hardware type items including cookware, hoe handles (hanging from ceiling), tubs (beneath the right counter and pitchers and bowls along the top right shelfs.  By 1913 the sale of saddles and related gear had been discontinued.

   The Desdemona store #2.  Clay Dabney on the right. On the left is a 1917 Ford touring car.

   Yes, that is a monkey behind Dabney’s.  While the photo, taken in the 1930s, is not real good the story is, but you will have to wait until a later date to read about Mag and Jigs.