Jan 16, 2013

Ridgefield Store Owner Follows in her Grandfather’s FootstepsBy FH BrowneTheReflector.com

Ridgefield, WA – Although several generations removed, Ridgefield’s Barbara Blystone is carrying on a legacy started by her grandfather who opened the first hardware store in Vancouver in 1905, selling tools, gardening materials and other necessities of the day from his small store on Main Street.

Four years later, he wanted to move five blocks farther north despite being told that it was way too far from the downtown for his customers. He moved anyway and operated the store for five decades.

While not operating a hardware store, granddaughter Barbara’s small gift shop in Ridgefield recently moved as well. For several years, the shop then known as The Dancing Rabbit, was on Ridgefield’s Main Avenue. But, last October, Blystone moved down the street to Pioneer Street, and changed the shop name to The Mercantile.

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