Dempster Hardy

Dempster Hardy

• Father: Robert Hardy
• Mother: Emma Bryant

• Dempster Hardy was born on 11 October 1883 in St Catharines, Lincoln County, Ontario, Canada.
• He married Margaret Koelle, daughter of Georg R. Kölle and Cäcelie Walter, on 8 June 1904 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, New York, at Zion Lutheran Church The marriage was witnessed by Christian Koelle and Marie Koelle.
• The following appeared on 1 April 1950 in the Niagara Falls Gazette: Fifty years ago in a small community known as Clarksville, a young man walked briskly along Ashland avenue into Main street, opened for the first time the doors to a modest butcher shop, tied an apron about his waist and prepared to greet his first customers.
       The little community, shortly thereafter, became one of Niagara Falls' middle-class neighbornoods. The shop, at 929 Main street, added a grocery department and the proprietor, Dempster Hardy, began acquiring that community status and business reputation enjoyed by the small but successful American business man.
       Today, as he has on every business day in the last 50 years, Mr. Hardy again took the short walk from his Ashland avenue home to the store but today differed from most in that it was an occasion for many reflections and many memories.
       What had happened, he wondered, to the old bell whose friendly tingle summoned the grocer from the back room to serve a customer? Where was the charcoal rack, the cracker barrel and the pot-bellied stove? What happened to the patent medicine advertisements, the high, crowded shelves of canned goods and the continual aroma of spices and seasonings?
       Certainly, he reflected, the position and the environment of the American independent grocer have undergone drastic changes since the turn of the century but, considering the stability and the permanent niche of the grocer on the American scene the grocery business has retained the high regard tendered it by the community.
       That stability is reflected, he decided, with just pride, in his own establishment which has functioned on the same site for a half-century and which, rather than having been moved from one to another neighborhood, has been instrumental in the growth of an integral part of an entire community.
       The reflections and the happy memories which began when Mr. Hardy opened the store today continued throughout the day as old friends, many of them patrons of long standing, visited the familiar scene to extend in friendly handshakes across the counter their congratulations and best wishes.
       Among visitors were the children and grandchildren of some of the store's earliest customers and appearing at frequent intervals were neighborhood children to whom Mr. Hardy affectionately is known as "Uncle Demp."
       Mr. Hardy, son of the late Robert Hardy and Emma Bryant Hardy was born at St. Catharines, Ont., October 11, 1883. The first phase of his education was received in that city and the second at Niagara Falls after the Hardy family moved here in 1893.
       During school vaction periods he worked as a water boy for 50 cents a day on the construction of the gorge road and after leaving school, he worked for $3 a week at a variety of jobs in a local tea store.
       With an uncle, Dempster Bryant, he established the butcher business on the site of the present store in 1900. The early years in the business convinced him that he had made a proper choice and when, in 1910, the partnership was dissolved and he acquired full ownership of the firm, he put into operation methods designed to root the venture into the young community.
       Mrs. Hardy, the former Margaret Koelle, this city, whom Mr. Hardy married in 1904, has been a faithful helpmate, a companion and a source of encouragement at all stages and still is his most valued assistant in the store.
       Mr. Hardy has rented the store, during all the 50 years, from Mrs. Etta Brown Dudley.
       A daughter, Dr. Marjory K. Hardy, is an instructor in dermatology in Philadelphia and conducts a private practice for the treatmenht of skin diseases.
       Dr. Hardy was one of the long line of children bearing the Hardy name at Ashland avenue school every year, with the exception of one, since that institution was built.
       A brother, Robert G. Hardy, and a sister, Carrie Hardy McCracken, both live in this city.
       Mr. Hardy is a past master of Niagara River Lodge 785 and a member of other Masonic.
• The following appeared on 25 July 1950 in the Niagara Falls Gazette: Mrs. Margaret Koelle Hardy, 634 Ashland avenue, died this morning in Philadelphia, Pa.
       Born in Niagara Falls, she was a lifelong resident here. She was a past matron of Flagler Chapter 355, Order of Eastern Star, and a past district grand matron of the Niagara-Orleans district chapter, OES, State of New York.
       Surviving Mrs. Hardy are her husband, Dempster Hardy; a daughter, Dr. Marjory K. Hardy, Philadelphia. Also two brothers, John and Chris Koelle and two sisters, Mrs. William Zinter and Mrs. Bert McConnell, all of this city.
       Funeral services will be held at the Gridley Funeral home, at a time and date to be announced later.
• Dempster Hardy became a widower at the 25 July 1950 death of his wife Margaret Koelle.
• He was interred at Oakwood Cemetery, Niagara Falls, Niagara County, New York.
• Dempster Hardy died on 5 February 1967 at age 83 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, New York, at DeVeaux Manor Nursing Home.
• The following appeared on 6 February 1967 in the Niagara Falls Gazette: Dempster Hardy, 86, of 634 Ashland Ave., a grocer here for 58 years, died Sunday (Feb. 5, 1967) in DeVeaux Manor Nursing Home after a long illness.
       A native of St. Catharines, Ont., Mr. Hardy lived in this city for 74 years. While attending school in this city, he worked as a water boy for 50 cents a day on the construction of the Niagara Gorge Railroad. After leaving school he worked for $3 a week at a variety of jobs in a local tea store. He later operated a grocery store at 929 Main St. for 58 years until his retirement in 1959 and was known to the neighborhood children as "Uncle Demp."
       Mr. Hardy was a member of the Free Methodist Church, Niagara Commandery No. 64 and Niagara Scottish Rites, Niagara Chapter No. 200, Royal ARch Masons. He was a past master and a member for 64 years of Niagara River Lodge No. 785, F&AM; a past patron of Flagler Chapter No. 355, OES; and a representative of the Grand Lodge of Nova Scotia from the Grand Lodge of New York State.
       Survivors include a daughter, Dr. Marjory K. Hardy, of Philadelphia, Pa., and several nieces and nephews.
       Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the Gridley Funeral Home by Rev. H. R. Goodrich, pastor of the Free Methodist Church. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery.
       Niagara River Lodge No. 785, F&AM, will conduct memorial services at the funeral home tuesday at 7:30 p.m. Friends may call from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m.

• Last Edited: 19 Oct 2013