National Register Listing

McClendon-Abney Hardware Company

119 Lufkin Ave., East, Lufkin, TX

The 1904 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map shows a 2-story brick structure with a general store. The 1928 city directory shows occupants as Perry Brothers Inc., Variety Store. The 1937 directory lists as McClendon-Abney Hardware Co. On March 13, 1901, W. A. Abney et al, T. W. Largent, and S. P. Cunningham gave a Mechanic Lien to D. A. Ballew for the construction of two brick storehouses, to the front on Lufkin Ave, extending back 70 feet, two-story height, 70 feet deep, 25 feet wide, built upon the same plan and specifications as the brick building known as Kerr Brick Building (believed to have been demolished), exceptions: upstairs shall the one large room, doors the same as an addition to L. W. Wettermark Bank (demolished, was on the northeast corner of Lufkin and First); dividing wall 13" thick downstairs, plastered; wooden partition dividing wall upstairs painted; to be erected as soon as practicable. Ballew was paid $3,400.00, and advanced money for material and labor, balance upon completion of the contract. A very good example of an early Lufkin retail structure and still in good condition. Has original pressed metal ceilings and some furniture from McClendon-Abney Hardware Company.

Part of the remaining contents of the hardware store is now housed at the local museum. Several of the members of the Abney family had other hardware stores in the city. Although built at the same time as 221 Lufkin Avenue East, 119 Lufkin Avenue East is a separate building with separate ownership and legal description. The area of significance is architecture at the local level.

Local significance of the building:
Architecture

Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.