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 In 1861 Henry M. Kirk (1820-1902), born in Youngstown but raised in Lawrence County, founded a hardware business on the Diamond in downtown New Castle. Henry left the business to his sons (Howard M. Kirk Sr. and Charles J. Kirk) in 1881 and moved to Montana to raise cattle. The company went through a series of partnerships and name changes and became Kirk & Smith Hardware in 1889, when Charles J. Kirk (1858-1937) teamed with James M. Smith Sr. (1862-1955). In 1893 the company moved into a new building at #24 East Washington Street, which likely joined their old quarters. Charles Kirk and James Smith both left the firm in later years to lead other companies – Kirk with the Universal Sanitary Manufacturing Company (later Universal Rundle) and Smith with Shenango Pottery (later Shenango China). (c1905) (UPDATED: 01 Mar 2026) Full Size |
 The Kirk family hardware business was a longtime mainstay on “the Diamond” in downtown New Castle. (c1908) |
 In early 1902 the firm was reorganized as the Smith, Hutton & Kirk Company, as former clerk John W. Hutton (1861-1940) took on a leadership role. In January 1917 the hardware business was reorganized as the Kirk, Hutton & Company (Kirk-Hutton & Co) and was led by Howard M. Kirk Sr. (1868-1952). When Howard Kirk Sr. passed away in 1952 his son Howard M. Kirk Jr. (1905-1997) took over the company. The business remained in operation until an elderly Kirk Jr. (shown above) decided to close it in the summer of 1989. The business had been in operation for 128 years. An auction was held on July 22, 1989, to sell off the equipment and remaining stock. The Perelman family purchased the building in October 1989, and it has since been home to several businesses. (1986) |
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UPDATED: 02 Mar 2026
Comments
Jack Gill #
I got a 26-inch Schwinn Spitfire there in 1962 and a Huffy in 1973. Most of his employees were older than sin, but they all knew where each of the 22,000 articles in hardware were.
Bret Briley #
I have a billhead in front of me from “Smith, Hutton & Kirk Company successors to Kirk & Smith Co.” Dated July 31, 1907. It lists James M. Smith as pres and treasurer, H.M. Kirk as vice pres. and John W. Hutton – secretary.
Bret Briley #
Just came across another billhead from “Smith, Hutton & Kirk Company”, but without “successors to Kirk & Smith Co”. Dated Dec. 23, 1916. Fyi, customer was James B. Kennedy.
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