The Vonnegut Hardware Company was a Indianapolis hardware store that operated from 1852 to 1965. It was founded by Clemens Vonnegut, Sr., a German former textile ribbon salesman from Amsterdam, who arrived in Indianapolis around 1851.
Indianapolis
At the beginning of the 1800s, the land that would become known as Indianapolis was generally a densely forested wilderness. Indiana was granted statehood in 1816 and four years later the Indiana General Assembly actively sought a site to re-establish a new State capital. In 1821 the Indiana State Legislature had approved both the site and the name Indianapolis. On January 1, 1825, the State capital was moved from Corydon (the territorial and first State capital), to Indianapolis. Indianapolis was incorporated in 1835. By 1830, Indianapolis had grown to a town of approximately 1,000 people. In 1850 the population of Indianapolis had grown to over 8,000 people. It was then ranked as the 87th largest urban area in the United States. Generally, Indianapolis area roads in 1850 were dirt, dusty in the summer and muddy in the winter and spring. The surface of the National Road was cobblestone as it ran through the city. Within the "mile square" known as Indianapolis, McAdamized road surfaces and wooden plank road surfaces diverged north and south of the great National Road. Indianapolis was just beginning to be seen as a chief railroad center by 1850. Railroads facilitated trade and brought merchandise and settlers into the area. By 1850 "mechanics of every handicraft" had found their way to Indianapolis and by 1855 the population of Indianapolis had doubled to 16,000 people.
The Vonnegut Hardware Company benefited from the rapid population growth of the City of Indianapolis. In 1850, just two years before Vonnegut was founded, the City of Indianapolis had a population of 8,091. By 1900 the population of Indianapolis had grown to 169,164 (ranked as the 21st largest urban area in the United States). By 1960 Indianapolis had a population of 476,258.
Early hardware business in the 1800s
In 1852 Clemens Vonnegut, Sr (1824–1906) entered into a partnership with fellow German Charles Volmer opening a hardware store in Indianapolis. Their merchandising store was called C Volmer & Vonnegut Hardware.
The original establishment was a one-room storefront at 71 West Washington Street or National Road as it was then called. The site was directly opposite the Washington Hall.
Initially, C Volmer & Vonnegut Hardware would sell hardware, groceries, dry goods, coffin fittings, animal hides and leather, agricultural, carpentry, butcher and harness-making supplies. Much of the merchandise was simply stacked outside on the wooden sidewalk for customers to browse and select. Given many customers arrived only after making arduous journeys, the proprietors would make cheese, crackers and a cool mug of Madison ale available to customers. The cheese, cracker and ale tradition continued from 1852 to approximately 1867.
There is some confusion regarding the business departure of Charles Volmer. One accounting is that Volmer left to go out West and was never heard from again. Another version of the story is that Volmer retired in 1857. Clemens Vonnegut's son Franklin would later reflect that Volmer simply went across the street and opened a grocery and liquor business. Perhaps a part of each story is correct. It appears that Volmer and Vonnegut Sr dissolved their partnership in 1856. By 1857 the retail hardware store was renamed Clemens Vonnegut Hardware and Charles Volmer was no longer affiliated with the enterprise. In 1858 Charles Volmer was operating a wholesale wine, liquor and cigar distributorship at 95 East Washington Street, Indianapolis. By 1865 there is no longer a record of Charles Volmer in Indianapolis.
At about the same time the partnership was dissolved, Clemens Vonnegut moved his hardware store to 338 East Washington Street (between New Jersey and Alabama Streets). He also moved his family into the apartment above the store. Vonnegut Sr would not stay at this address very long.
Circa 1858 the business would move to 142 East Washington Street. The family would also accompany this move taking-up residency in the apartment above the store.
In 1865 Clemens Vonnegut Hardware was operating out of a much larger building located at 178-180 East Washington Street. The Vonnegut family would also reside above this storefront.