A special request from the owners of G.M. Deck & Co.
The G.M. Deck store was one of the few stores that still existed since the early 20th century. But what was there before G.M. Deck came into the mill town?
The Clover Mill
The Clover Mill was owned by Andrew Ambler until it came into possession of Isaac Thomas and then to Jonathan Lukens. The purpose of the mill was to supply water for the community. When given the mill, Jonathan was told to keep the race clean and the mill running. His intention of using the mill was to supply the water for the locomotives.
During Jonathan Lukens' ownership of the Clover Mill, businesses began to come to Ambler to seek opportunities.
"Except for a short time after its purchase by Lukens, the mill was never used for sawing lumber. There never has been, however, a discontinuance of business on the lot on which it was erected. The land on which the other mills stood which once existed in the locality are at the present day devoid of any habitation on them; the historian has no visible markings whereby to locate them. The Clover Mill on the other hand has had a monument erected to its memory: in the uninterrupted years of business activities conducted where it stood, its location has never failed to contribute to the prosperity of the community and the maintenance of a family."
- Mary P.H. Hough, "Early history of Ambler 1682-1888."
Reed's Hardware Store
John Reed opened a tin and roofing business in Hatfield. In 1880, he moved to Ambler where he continued his business. He initially worked at the corner of Race and Spring Garden Streets on the second floor while a blacksmith shop was held on the first floor.
Unfortunately, having a blacksmith shop and a tin shop in one building didn't mix well. The gas from the first floor caused the tin to be ruined. Jared had no choice but to move out of the building, and opened a new building on Main Street.
Thus, Reed's Hardware Store was born.
His son Harry W.B. Reed (1849-1913) took over the business later on after 1880, and ran it successfully until he retired.
G.M. Deck & Co.
Garnett M. Deck (1883-1957) and his partner Morris H. Shoemaker, later John T. Daub, became successors of the former Reed store, renaming it as "G.M. Deck & Co."
Bibliography
"G.M. Deck Takes Over Local Hardware Business." Ambler Gazette. June 13, 1918. Page 5. http://digitalcollections.powerlibrary.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/wivp-gazett/id/6698/rec/3.
"Google Maps Area Calculator Tool." DaftLogic. Accessed December 27, 2021. https://www.daftlogic.com/projects-google-maps-area-calculator-tool.htm.
Hough, Mary P. H. "Early history of Ambler 1682-1888." A Celebration of Women Writers. Accessed December 25, 2021. https://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/hough/ambler/ambler.html.
"Obituary. H.W.B. Reed." Ambler Gazette. March 27, 1913. Page 1. http://digitalcollections.powerlibrary.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/wivp-gazett/id/9712/rec/1.
"Wissahickon Valley Public Library's Ambler Gazette Collection." POWER Library: Pennsylvania's Electronic Library. Accessed November 12, 2021. http://digitalcollections.powerlibrary.org/cdm/landingpage/collection/wivp-gazett.