Hardware Store to Live on in Pieces

The Fredericksburg Hardware store, slated for demolition next week, will live on as bricks and timbers from the existing structure will be incorporated into the residential and retail development planned for the site.

A letter from Jud Honaker, in charge of commercial development for the Silver Cos., to the Historic Fredericksburg Foundation, Inc., outlined the company's historic preservation plans for the site.

Back in 2007, Silver Cos. hired the Dovetail Cultural Resource Group to conduct archaeological studies on the building which stands at the corner of William and Amelia streets. That effort resulted in a 70 page report on the history of the structures which have stood in that location.

"As you may know, little was found to exist from the first structure that once stood, and the original portion that does remain was unfortunately found to be too weak to use structurally in any new construction," wrote Honaker to HFFI Executive Director Sean Maroney. "Even so, Silver Companies agreed then to secure and reuse as much of the original brick, timber and other historically significant material as possible in new construction on this site."

Honaker's letter says that the Silver Cos. take historic preservation seriously. To demonstrate that commitment, the company will make an unspecified donation to the HFFI's preservation fund, but only once the project is complete.

"We're still refining our plan to build a very high end townhouse project on the Amelia street side and a true commercial building on the William Street side," said Honaker in an interview.

The sagging economy had put a hold on developing the site, with one of the primary problems being finding a construction company well suited for the project.

"A lot of the smaller homebuilders have gone out of business, and the national homebuilders are not a good fit for this project," said Honaker.

As of Friday afternoon, a demolition permit had not been issued, however Honaker said that it was expected to be issued by the end of the business day.

The site's history goes back to 1849, when a brick warehouse was built at the corner of William and Winchester streets. A fire in 1914 reduced the entire block to rubble. The site had been a hardware store between 1963 and 2004, warranting a visit from President George H.W. Bush during the 1992 presidential campaign.