Henry and Urannah “Rennie” Wilson Constable braved the Atlantic seas from London, England arriving to the Port of New York with their five children on October 12, 1836. Henry, 48, was a farmer by trade and he and Rennie, 33, would have nine more offspring after settling in the hills of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The family was drawn to Johnstown because Henry’s brother resided there. Henry likely helped his brother farm after initially arriving in Cambria County but by 1850 his occupation is listed as “brick maker.” The area where the brothers raised their crops and Henry made bricks became known as “Constable Hollow.” It is said that Henry Constable made the first bricks in Johnstown.
The Cambria Iron works established itself in Johnstown in 1852; almost certainly Henry Constable made some of the first bricks for the company buildings. With the iron works constantly expanding Hiram Swank, and A. J. Haws, brickmakers from Indiana County, Pennsylvania each brought in over 100 men and established large brick refractories near Johnstown in 1856. The Cambria works built four large iron and steel mills in the area, one of which sat on land purchased from Henry Constable. Henry and his eldest son, Henry Jr. both labored at brick making, probably working for either Swank or Haws. Urannah passed in 1856 and Henry Sr. twenty years later.
Henry Constable Jr., born in England in 1823, married Mary Goucher in Johnstown in 1859. They would have eight children including Elmer Ellsworth, born in April 1864. Henry quit brickmaking and began a family farm in the early 1860’s which was interrupted by his enlistment in the Union Army with Company A of the 51st Pennsylvania Infantry Volunteers in September 1864; Henry was mustered out of the service as a private on June 2, 1865. He returned to farming but by 1880, with several of his boys now old enough to work the farm, he took a job with the local railroad. He became an invalid in 1887 and received a Civil War disability pension until his death in 1900. After his passing, Mary, his wife, received a Civil War widow’s pension until she died in 1909. The children of Henry and Mary settled in Constable Hollow with the exception of Elmer.
Elmer Ellsworth Constable married Julia Ann Wissinger in August 1888 at the home of her parents in Stoney Creek Township in Cambria County, Pennsylvania. At the time Elmer was a mill hand at the Cambria Iron Works. The couple settled in Stoney Creek. Julia Ann and Elmer had seven children; Norris (1890), Ralph (1892), Elsie (1893), Roy B. (1897), Ruth (1899), Freda (1900), and Howard (1904). Elmer worked in a machine shop in his early married years but throughout the 1920’s and 1930’s he followed his father’s footsteps as a farmer. Elmer passed in Stoney Creek in 1952, Julia passed in 1941. Sons Norris and Ralph worked in the steel mills in Johnstown while Howard labored as a coal miner. Around 1915 Roy B. went to work for M. Nathan & Brothers Department Store in Johnstown as an assistant window trimmer, it would be his first employment with a large firm in retail sales. During his school days Roy B. had delivered newspapers and did farm labor. After graduation he was employed by a grocery store soliciting orders and then delivering them, as was a practice of the day. Later he earned a payday at a local confectionary store and eventually spent some time working at Johnstown’s National Radiator Works.
When W. E. Zierden, founder of Zierden’s Department Store in Johnsonburg, left Johnsonburg, Pennsylvania in 1916 he turned the operation of his large retail store over to his manager and erstwhile partner, J. J. Donnelly. Donnelly, who had come to work for Zierden from the Nathan Brothers Department Store in Johnstown, soon brought his former co-worker at Nathan’s, Roy B. Constable, to Johnsonburg to manage the grocery department at the Zierden Store.
Roy Benjamin Constable and family
Roy Benjamin Constable, born April 26, 1897 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, apparently did not care to labor in the Johnstown steel mills or coal mines like his brothers; instead he turned his talents toward retail merchandizing. Shortly after going to work in Johnsonburg at the Zierden Store but while still maintaining his Johnstown residence, Roy B. sealed his fate as a future Johnsonburg resident by falling in love. Roy B. and Miss Blanche Marie Osbourne of Vennard’s Island in Johnsonburg, were married at the home of her parents on April 10, 1917. This union would set the stage for retail enterprises in Kane and Johnsonburg, Pennsylvania that would become one the longest and most successful merchandising institutions in those communities. Roy B. and Blanche would have five children born to them; Jaretta (1917), Melvin (1918), Gloria (1923), Phyllis (1926), and Peggy Ann (1938).
The Zierden Department Store ceased selling groceries in early 1920 which may have cost Roy B. his position at the store or maybe Roy B. just felt like he needed a change. In any case, he left the employment of Zierden’s and moved on to work for a time at two well-known Johnsonburg retail stores; the E. Deiches Store and the Louis Gross Store. However, by June of 1921 he had become the manager of the Schreiner Brothers store on West Centre Street in the West End of Johnsonburg.
Frederick Otto Schreiner was born in Ellenville, Ulster County, New York in 1868 and arrived in Wilcox, Pennsylvania in 1870 with his parents, George Joseph and Elizabeth Schreiner, along with his older siblings; Anthony, John, Anna, Eva, and George Joseph II. As a young man Otto, as he liked to be called, took a job as a clerk with the John Meehan General Store in Johnsonburg and wedded Susanne Thompson in 1897. They would have one surviving child; Frederick Otto, born in 1898. John Meehan came from Ulster County also and labored with Otto’s father in the Wilcox tannery. He opened his store on Centre Street in Johnsonburg in 1881. Possibly that is how young Otto got the position; his father being a friend of the owner.
About 1895 Otto saw a need for a hardware store in the growing West End of Johnsonburg and established the F.O. Schreiner store on West Centre Street diagonal from what would soon be the Central Hose Company firehall. By 1896 the store had grown and was known as F.O. Schreiner, Dealer in General Merchandise. The store stood two stories and sold a wide array of merchandise from hardware to clothing to furniture to groceries. George Joseph Schreiner II, a year senior to Otto, worked as a lumber scaler in the area but in the early 1900’s he teamed with his brother Otto to form the F.O. Schreiner and Company Store at the same West End location. Otto was the manager and George, bookkeeper and clerk. In 1904 the store was commonly called the Schreiner Brothers Store and Otto and George purchased a larger building across the street (Cushing Avenue) due to expanding business. In 1970 the original store was torn down and the land donated to the Methodist Church. The brothers additionally had financial interest in piping projects, salvage, and real estate. Around 1920 with the health of F.O., as Otto was now more commonly known as, failing (he suffered from crippling arthritis and heart problems), the brothers took on Roy B. Constable to assist George and manage the store. The reorganized store would now be known as the Schreiner Bros. Store. In 1924 the store was incorporated as the Schreiner Store Company, Inc. with F.O. Schreiner, President, George J. Schreiner, Vice-President, and Roy B. Constable, Treasurer.
While the Schreiner Brothers store had always been a prosperous enterprise serving the West End of Johnsonburg, under the tutelage of Mr. Constable, sales at the store exploded throughout the 1920’s. With the popular Zierden’s store in downtown Johnsonburg in its demise due to absentee management and lack of advertising, Mr. Constable took a page out of the old Zierden merchandising book and began purchasing ½ page ads in the Johnsonburg Press. Roy B. was a great believer in advertising and sales promotions. Undoubtedly he knew what marketing worked and what did not through his years of retail experience at the various stores where he had been previously employed. Schreiner Bros. Store used some novel sales tactics in those years.
Christmas Toyland was introduced in 1923 at Schreiner Bros. with Mama Dolls and a wide variety of friction toys available. The “Roaring Twenties” not only brought in bootlegging, speakeasy’s, and the Charleston dance, but consumer’s now had more disposable income than ever and Christmas was slowly becoming a retail bonanza. No longer did children find a homemade doll, a whittled bronco, or a storybook under the Christmas tree but now manufactured dolls and tin toys were all the envy of each boy and girl. Schreiner Bros. grasped the concept quickly and expertly. After Christmas the firm had a ½ off toy sale. This moved the playthings off the shelves in anticipation of Spring merchandise.
In June 1924 Schreiner Brothers Store under manager Roy B. Constable offered a free baseball for every pair of boys shoes purchased. So what was the big deal? In those days many boys went bare-foot for the summer or wore their prior winter clodhoppers if they were not too small, or they cut off the fronts of their ill-fitting shoewear to give their toes some room. New baseballs were hard to come by as most balls were homemade; a small stone wrapped in cloth or yarn and covered with tape. Boys would likely beg their parents for new school shoes (purchased a size larger and not worn until school resumed in September) just to get an official ball. For the girls? Nothing. Girls were supposed to wear shoes all year round. The free item for a shoe purchase was restricted to boys. This sales pitch would get boys shoewear off the shelves during the typically slow business time of the summer months.
Radios were becoming extremely popular in Johnsonburg and Schreiner’s had them. Alva Gregory, owner of the Johnsonburg Press, was radio crazy and devoted a whole page of his weekly newspaper to the latest in radios and radio gadgets. Few other stores in Johnsonburg dabbled in radios at the time.
Santa Claus appeared at the Schreiner’s Store in 1924, a first in Johnsonburg.
In 1925, with Roy B. minding the store, F.O. and George Schreiner bought the Ridgway Tannery for salvage purposes. The brothers also operated a service station across the street next to the Central Hose Company in what was called Schreiner’s Court, which unfortunately, along with the NYPEN Field grandstand burnt down. The station is rebuilt in 1926.
Toyland and Santa reappear at Schreiner Bros. in 1925.
Every June Roy B. runs an annual Schreiner Brothers Store Anniversary sale, another innovation.
In 1930 Santa Claus is back at Schreiner’s for his yearly visit with a new twist; each child will receive a free gift! Other surprise packages can be bought for 10 or 22 cents. The rest of the business community catches on, somewhat. The Johnsonburg Business Merchants sponsor a visit with Santa at the Elks club. Each child under 10 will receive an orange and candy. Nice gesture, but does it get the kids and parents into the stores?
Frederick Otto Schreiner Jr., son of Otto, showed no interest in being part of the store, married in Chicago in 1923 and moved to Los Angeles, California where he founded the Schreiner Insurance Company, a successful insurance brokerage firm.
George Joseph Schreiner III, born in 1908 to George Joseph Schreiner II and his wife Olive, elopes to Chautauqua, New York to wed Mary Richardson in 1928, she is 18. They move to Lower Merion, Pennsylvania where he is a bond trader.
G. C. Murphy opens its doors in Johnsonburg in the old Zierden Store in 1929 and with their East Coast buying power puts pressure on Johnsonburg’s independent stores for sales. The Great Depression hits and Johnsonburg, like the rest of the country, feels the pain, the Paper Mill cuts hours due to lack of orders and retail sales suffer. Johnsonburg residents are unsure of their income and restrict spending. However, Schreiner Bros. Store with Roy B. Constable at the helm struggles through the lean years.
In 1936 one of the worst floods ever hits the West End of Johnsonburg and the Schreiner Bros. Store is almost “wiped out.” But through the heroic efforts of the Schreiner family and Roy B. the business is cleaned and put back in operation. However, in 1938 Otto and his wife move to the warmer climate of Los Angeles to be near their son and George II suffers the first of what would be several heart attacks. By 1939 the Depression has taken its toll and the Schreiner Bros. Store disbands and declares bankruptcy. George Joseph Schreiner II then experiences a further extreme tragedy when his son George III dies of an accidental death in Cape May, New Jersey; breaking his neck while diving into the ocean. After the store’s demise Roy B. Constable spends the next year and a half as a sales representative before embarking on the rest of his life’s work.
In 1940 Roy B. is 43 years old when he starts his own business at 406 Centre Street in downtown Johnsonburg where the Patsy’s Shoe and Clothing will eventually set up shop. Family history has it that Roy B. borrowed $500 from his mother and another $500 from his son, Melvin, to help get the enterprise off the ground. Melvin had been working for Bosler’s Drug Store and had designs on becoming a pharmacist but went to work in partnership with his father. However, Melvin and his life-long friend Jack Rosenhoover were in the Ridgway National Guard when on February 17, 1941 they enlisted in the United States Army. They were eventually assigned to the 883 Preflight Training Squadron at San Antonio, Texas. After a short time, Roy B. decides to purchase the old E. Deiches Store on Centre Street in downtown Johnsonburg and move his retail operation there. It is nip and tuck for the store for a while especially after Johnsonburg’s calamitous July 18, 1942 flood closes the enterprise for a time. But Roy B., with son Melvin and Jack Rosenhoover (who take leave from the service to help), has experience in cleaning up and re-opening after floods, and that, combined with the Country’s resurgence in retail sales after World War II, work to make the store successful.
In the years following the war Roy B. and Melvin would purchase several properties on Centre Street and expand the business. The Ware Building, the Knudson Building, the Marino property, and the Dinardo property were bought between 1946 and 1953. The store added floor coverings, appliances, televisions, paints, and lawn mowers among other items to its line of merchandise. About the only items not for sale at Roy B. Constable Stores were groceries, clothing, and hardware. When son Melvin returned from World War II service in December 1945, he became assistant manager to the growing enterprise and was instrumental in stream-lining the Store’s somewhat dubious recordkeeping. At this time Melvin attended the Armstrong Flooring School and installed hard surface floor coverings for the store.
John (Jack) Christopher Rosenhoover was born in Johnsonburg in 1919. Prior to World War II he worked at the Kanski Bros. grocery concern on Cobb Street in Johnsonburg. After returning from the war Jack went to work at Constable’s and an informal partnership was formed with Roy B., Melvin, and Jack. The partnership was later incorporated in 1957 with Roy B., President, Mrs. Blanche Constable, Vice-President, and Melvin Constable, Secretary/Treasurer. Roy B. Constable was the majority stockholder. Jack Rosenhoover was never a “formal” partner. Roy B. Constable owned 820 voting shares of stock and 1900 non-voting shares. Melvin R. Constable had 660 voting shares, Blanche E. Constable had 20 shares of voting stock and 20 shares of non-voting stock. Roy B. and Melvin R. each received identical remuneration for their work at the separate stores.
Melvin R. Constable married Margaret Parana in February 1947 in Wilcox, Pennsylvania. They would have five children, Roy M., Neal, Charles, Michael, and Jaretta.
Roy B. Constable and Mel did not rest on their laurels. In April 1955 they grabbed at an opportunity to open another Constable’s Store; this enterprise on Fraley Street in Kane, Pennsylvania, about 18 miles from Johnsonburg. They purchased the former A. J. Dolan Furniture Store in Kane from Carl B. Braunstein of West Palm Beach, Florida. The sale involved a three-story building, the fixtures, and the remaining close-out merchandise. Mr. Braunstein had bought the store from the Dolan family in 1953. The Kane store would be managed by Roy B. Constable with his son Melvin R. Constable taking over the management of the Johnsonburg store. The Roy B. Constable Store of Kane would soon open with a final close-out sale and then was closed for remodeling and introduction of all new stock. On June 9, 1955 the Grand Opening of the Roy B. Constable Store of Kane was held with a bicycle giveaway and $500 in other prizes, ranging from a Sealy mattress to a swivel rocker.
The first year in Kane is quite successful with Constable’s hallmark little red Ford truck seen constantly motoring here and there making deliveries. Many of the store lines of merchandise are similar to what is sold at the Johnsonburg store; Sealy mattresses, Samsonite luggage, Armstrong flooring, Speed Queen washers and dryers, Nelson Brothers living room furniture, Crosley Shalvadors (refrigerators), RCA electronics, bedroom suites, Cosco kitchen stools and tables, cabinet bases and doors, chairs of all types. Constable’s advertises that trade-ins are welcome and liberal credit is available. A Constable Stores innovation is a monthly special and in late 1955 the stores introduce the area to “unfinished furniture” which becomes all the rage; furniture you can paint, stain, or varnish yourself. Also, Constable’s has “Do it yourself flooring,” an idea ahead of its time.
Christmas in 1955 at Constable’s new store in Kane offers layaway plans as does the Johnsonburg Store, “if you can lift it you can lay it away” and Toyland is much advertised although Roy B. informs Kane customers that the Johnsonburg store has a much larger selection of toys with the caveat that if Kane doesn’t have what the customer wants, Johnsonburg will. It is noted that the little red truck delivers to Kane, Ludlow, Wilcox, Kinzua, Sheffield, Marienville, Clermont, Halsey, Mt. Jewett, Clarendon, Smethport, and James City. The Johnsonburg store delivers to Johnsonburg, Ridgway, St. Marys, Wilcox and surrounding area all at no charge. No other store in the area offers such complete service and quality goods at fair prices and that is Constable’s Stores motto: Service, Quality, Good Values.
Back in Johnsonburg the Roy B. Constable Store lands a coup when it gets the bid and installs a new gym floor at the Johnsonburg High School.
The Roy B. Constable Stores of Johnsonburg and Kane prosper in the late 1950’s into the 1960’s. Constable’s advertising is generally homespun as though the ownership is talking to a person on the street. The stores become well-known throughout the area and a great many customers travel quite a distance to shop at the Kane and Johnsonburg establishments. The reason why can be explained in a 1956 Constable advertisement:
“First, we will handle medium and good quality merchandise. Second, we will strictly guarantee everything we sell, third, it will be priced the same for all under similar circumstance, no free goods or gifts to anyone. No special discounts. Every item will be marked plainly. No exaggerations. No exaggeration trade-in-values-because our prices will not be raised to do this. REMEMBER, all prices will be clearly marked.”
In 1956 Constable Stores bring back meeting Santa Claus in person at both stores. Free gifts are given to all good boys and girls and surprise packages are for sale at minimum cost. The children and adults get to parade past the impressive Toyland display starting at 1:30 p.m. It is marketing genius. In future years, Roy and Neal Constable, Melvin’s sons and Roy B.’s grandchildren will play the parts of Santa’s Elf helpers.
The company automobile, a Packard, is replaced in 1957 with a Ford Lincoln and also in that year Roy B. begins to transfer amounts of his non-voting stock to his son and daughters. These transfers will take also place in 1958, 1959, 1961, and 1962.
Advertising plays a large part of the Constable Stores success, “Everything For The Home.” Constables places ads almost daily in the Kane Republican and weekly in the Johnsonburg Press. The ads are sprinkled with references to the little red Constable delivery truck which is reported to be seen delivering daily within a 50-mile radius of Kane and Johnsonburg. In 1959 the red truck is retired and replaced with a larger truck and a station wagon. Lifestyles are much slower in those years with most businesses closing at noon on Wednesday (except during December) and very few open on Sunday. For example, in November 1959 Constable Stores announced they would be open until 9 o’clock Friday and Saturday during December with no afternoon closings on Wednesday and the stores would close on Christmas Eve at 5:00 p.m. Employees would have a three day holiday returning to work on the 28th. The Kane and Johnsonburg Stores would close on December 31st and reopen on January 4th.
As with any motivated businessman Roy B. heads several business organizations and belongs to many social clubs; Roy B. presides over the Johnsonburg Businessman’s Progressive Association and the Kane Retail Merchants Bureau, and is a Rotarian, member of the Chamber of Commerce, Elks member, and member of Johnsonburg Borough Council. Likewise, Melvin R. Constable is a member of the Johnsonburg Chamber of Commerce, Rolfe Sportsman Club, Wilcox Sportsman Club, Johnsonburg Elks, Johnsonburg Rotary, James W. Brown Lodge, Zem Zem Shriners Temple in Erie, and the Johnsonburg Businessman’s Association. Melvin is also instrumental in organizing and supporting the Calypso Carnival (1961) and Indian Festival Days (1963) in Johnsonburg.
In January 1959 Constables expands the Kane store and makes improvements to the front facade. Ironically, both the Johnsonburg and Kane stores suffer broken plate glass windows; in Kane a mishap with a ladder causes the breakage and in Johnsonburg an errant auto does the damage. On July 25, 1960 the Kane store celebrates its 5th anniversary with a grand re-opening with door prizes and showing off their new addition, an Early American Room display. The Pirates win the World Series versus the Yankees and yours truly (the author) receives a great Xmas gift, a board game purchased from Constables called “Baseball Game Approved By The Little League For Little Leaguers And Their Fathers.” I do not recall my father ever playing the game but childhood playmates Tom Bouse, Tom Schott, John Michaels and others also have the game which is played at everyone’s house throughout the summer of 1961 and beyond.
Santa is back at Constables in 1961 with surprise packages that kids can buy for 10 cents, 25 cents, 50 cents, or one dollar, with every brown bag guaranteed to contain a toy worth more than the price of the gift. Many Johnsonburg residents remember lining up along Centre Street in anticipation of winding around inside the store salivating over the many toys on display, especially the train set, and finally telling Santa what his/her wish was for Christmas morning and receiving their surprise package purchase from elves Roy M. or Neal Constable, sons of Johnsonburg store manager, Melvin Constable.
From 1959 to 1961 Constable Stores offers a free high chair to the first New Year’s Baby born in the community the Store’s serve. This, of course, builds customer loyalty; a premise always maintained by Constables. In October 1959, the Roy B. Constable’s Stores decide to start selling televisions, stressing service and warranty on all merchandise.
Interestingly, Roy B.’s daughter, Phyllis Constable opens a Kiddie’s & Infant apparel shop in Kane in July 1962 when she purchases the former Ruth Ahlquist Shoppe at 77 Fraley Street. Although Roy B. Constable Stores is not a partner in the store in later years the two stores in Kane sometimes combine their advertising. Roy B. Constable Stores approved a business loan to Phyllis Constable with her shares of non-voting stock as security. The Phyllis Constable store will close in 1991.
By the 1960’s Constable Store’s floorcovering installation has become a larger part of the business as demonstrated by considerably more advertising in that area and the notice that the company has won the bid for the tiling of the Johnsonburg West End Elementary School and also the laying of carpeting of the main room of the Kane Masonic Lodge. The floorcovering work in Kane is done by Dave Magnuson and Jack Valentour, employees of the store. At the time Magnuson is being groomed to take over the Kane store when Roy B. retires.
In 1962 the Kane store no longer offers toys for sale at Christmas but the Johnsonburg store continues the Santa tradition and has a large selection of children’s playthings. Meeting Santa at the Johnsonburg Store will continue until 1968. Also, in this year, the Constable Stores Board of Directors increases the salaries of the President and Secretary-Treasurer for the first time in five years, but months later, the increase is rescinded due to Johnsonburg Paper Mill layoffs. After a two year economic downturn, business in Johnsonburg comes roaring back and the former raises are re-implemented in January 1964.
Another innovative sales pitch by Constable Stores in 1964 is the oldest Kelvinator (refrigerator) contest whereby the oldest Kelvinator traded in for a new refrigerator will get their new fridge free.
In December 1964 Constables buys the Bernard Rose building at 53 Farley Street in Kane to expand the store’s radio and electronic section. The annex opens in March 1965 and the store in Kane now runs from addresses 45 to 53 on Fraley Street. The Roy B. Constable Stores Inc. borrows $24,000 to cover the cost of purchase/remodeling of the Rose building, the payment to Phyllis Constable for 60 shares of non-voting stock, and to satisfy the current obligation owed to the Warren Bank of Kane.
By 1965 Constable Stores have eight employees in Johnsonburg and seven in Kane. The Kane store celebrates its tenth anniversary with a big 3-day sale and record crowds attend. Constable Stores pays tribute to his 15 employees with a roast beef dinner at Bloam’s Tavern on the Wilcox highway. It has been 25 years since Roy B. opened the store in Johnsonburg.
On February 8, 1966 a strange occurrence happens at the Kane store. At 4:00 a.m. patrolman William Boyd discovers a back door broken off the hinges and a refrigerator placed in front of the door. The cash drawer is rifled and $3.75 is taken but a drawer containing a large number of bills is covered with water as is the floor. No explanation is ever found.
Business is going well at the Kane and Johnsonburg stores as salary increases are given out again by the Board of Directors.
In early June 1966 Constable’s announces that a shiny new red delivery truck has been purchased! Everything seems to be going great for Constable Stores as salary increases are again approved in January 1967, but then tragedy strikes. On June 15, 1967, after an illness of three years, the Vice-President of Constable Stores, Mrs. Roy B. (Blanche) Constable dies at age 71. The stores are closed on Saturday, June 17 for her burial services. Her position as vice-president would not be filled until May 1968.
In May 1968 Melvin R. Constable suffers a heart attack and his services are lost to the Company for six weeks. Daniel Brahaney, local attorney, is elected as interim director to replace Melvin. The Company is reorganized with Roy B. Constable-President, Jack Rosenhoover-Vice-President, and Melvin Constable-Secretary/Treasurer. Mr. Rosenhoover filling the vacancy of former director Blanche Constable. In August Melvin resumes his duties as director and makes a motion that would affect Johnsonburg Constable Store patrons for many years; due to lack of adequate profit margins the large toy business that had been built up over the years in Johnsonburg was to be discontinued. The motion carried. Attorney Brahaney would remain on the Roy B. Constable Stores Board of Directors until January 1973 when Jack Rosenhoover will take his place.
For the first time in Roy B. Constable Stores Inc. history bonuses are allotted to the Board of Directors in December 1968. In addition, in January 1969 the corporation purchases the “Green Door” building from Melvin R. Constable at 416 Center Street. The corporation had been leasing the building from Mr. Constable. In October, the company’s 1965 Chrysler was replaced by a 1970 model.
With the closing of the Johnsonburg Paper Mill in 1969 there were concerns by the Board of Directors that the unemployment problem caused by the closing would have a detrimental effect on the business and it was voted to pay down the current debt faster in case it would be necessary to borrow in the future. Repairs to the Kane store were also made in 1970.
In 1971, after graduating from Gannon University of Erie, Pennsylvania, with a B.S. Degree in Accounting, Roy M. Constable, eldest son of Melvin, takes over some of the duties from his grandfather, Roy B., in managing the Kane store. Typically, Roy B. plays a large part in the operations and promotions of the Kane Retail Merchants organization but in this year the Constable Store of Kane is represented by Roy M.
In December 1972 Charles W. Constable begins his career at the Johnsonburg store under his father’s tutelage. Pending his college graduation in June 1973, Neal Constable will be assigned to the Kane store.
Tragically, on April 18, 1973 Melvin R. Constable, manager of the Johnsonburg Store, expires suddenly at his home in Johnsonburg. Only 54, Melvin is an important part of the Johnsonburg store’s success and as Secretary/Treasurer of the Constable Stores of Kane and Johnsonburg he played a most integral part in their progress and success. An astute businessman, he was very outgoing and likeable and dedicated to his community; belonging to and involved with the Masons, Shriners, Elks, Rotary, Sportsman’s Clubs, the Johnsonburg Chamber of Commerce, and the Johnsonburg Businessman’s Association. He was survived by his wife, Margaret A. Parana, who he married in Wilcox in 1947, sons, Roy M., Neal, Charles, Michael, and daughter, Jaretta.
The death of Melvin R. Constable is an obvious serious blow to the Roy B. Constable Store company resulting in a void in leadership and financial acumen within the company structure. Luckily, Roy M. Constable is a quick learner as he succeeds his father as a director and Secretary-Treasurer, and assumes the responsibility of compiling the Store’s financial reports that were previously prepared by his father. Long-time employee, Jack Rosenhoover, steps up to manage the Johnsonburg store with Charlie Constable as his assistant. Margaret Constable assumes the 660 shares Class A voting stock previously owned by her deceased husband.
After his graduation from Penn State University in June 1973, Neal J. Constable finishes an extensive two-week course in resilient flooring at the Armstrong Cork Installation School in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and shortly after leads and expands the floorcovering operation of the Roy B. Constable Furniture Stores, Inc.
Constable Stores in Johnsonburg begins major construction in June, 1974 with a new 50’ X 90’ addition with renovations to the front of the two existing buildings providing a handsome facade to tie in the three edifices as one unit. In December Constable’s hold a grand opening of their newly renovated store with over 30 door prizes over a three-day event. The new construction doubled the size of the prior store and showed that Constable’s was all in for Johnsonburg progress. At the time Roy B. Constable was the founder and President of the company and managed the Kane store, Jack Rosenhoover Vice-President and Manager of the Johnsonburg Store, Neal Constable, in charge of installation of carpet and linoleum at both stores, Charles Constable Assistant Manager of the Johnsonburg Store, Michael Constable at college, and Roy M. Constable secretary/treasurer, who worked with his grandfather in the Kane store.
Margaret Constable assumes the position of treasurer of the Roy B. Constables Stores in January 1975. Roy B. Constable celebrates his 78th birthday anniversary in May 1975 by showing off the new facade of his Kane store next to the main furniture business. Roy B. is proud that at 78 he is still on the job every day.
The years 1975-76 shows what great interest Constable Stores has in community affairs; Jack Rosenhoover is on the advisory board of the Warren National Bank of Johnsonburg and is on the Board of Trustees of the Elk County General Hospital, Roy M. is Vice-President of the Kane Chamber of Commerce and an Elks Club Exalted Ruler, and Charles Constable is named to the Johnsonburg Water Authority Board while also heading up the campaign for the Johnsonburg-Wilcox Welfare Fund. Constable Stores pledges support for the Elk County General Hospital.
A second flooring crew is hired in July 1976 and in Eldred in December 1976 Constable Stores installs carpeting in the Tower Super Market Store; the first grocery store with carpet. Also for 1976 it is announced in November that Santa will be back at the Constable Store in Kane on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon, keeping up a long tradition. For the first time in corporate history a dividend is declared to be paid to all outstanding shares. A money “crunch” is experienced by the corporation in the fall of 1976 and in January 1977 the corporation moves its loan finances from the Warren National Bank of Johnsonburg to the Ridgway Savings and Loan. In December 1977 Neal Constable, manager of the carpet division of the corporation notes that a third flooring crew is being added. Michael R. Constable joins the Roy B. Constable Stores staff in 1975, and as timekeeper and financial officer in April 1977, he is an accounting graduate of Williamsport Community College. Regrettably, in April 1977 Mike becomes paralyzed from the waist down from an automobile accident. Mike serves Constable Stores until his retirement in 2019.
In 1978 Roy B. Constable remarried to Alice Williams in St. Marys, Pennsylvania. The marriage had little effect on store operations. The years 1978 through 1979 were good ones for the corporation but there is an emphasis on cost-cutting; employee insurance is becoming a much larger expense for the Corporation and less expensive insurance is researched, inventory control between the Kane and Johnsonburg stores is implemented more stringently, and further training is provided to sales employees to improve sales, especially on big ticket items. Due to cheaper imports Admiral Televisions go out of production and in January 1979 Constable Stores discontinue selling the brand and Philco Televisions now appear in the stores. In June a warehouse building on Center Steet is purchased from Quentin Smith. For the first time in Corporate history funds are borrowed against corporate certificates of deposit to help the December cash flow; inventory purchasing costs are increasingly greater in the months preceding the Christmas season. In a cost-cutting move Roy B. Constable states he will no longer accept an annual bonus as he is spending less time at the store. End of year bonuses are allotted to the Board of Directors and key employees.
In 1980 Dorothy Michaels and Gladys Noble. longtime integral employees of Constable Stores in Johnsonburg and Kane, are honored. Due to the 1980 recession and corresponding inflation, sales are flat and overhead costs for American companies are soaring. Like many other corporations of this era and after, Constable’s switches health insurance providers for better coverage and costs.
In the summer of 1980 Treasurer Margaret A. Constable gifts 20 shares each of Class A voting stock to her sons; Roy M., Neal J., Charles W., and Michael R.. Each year, up until 1988, Mrs. Constable will make the identical gifts until completely divesting herself of her Class A stock.
The 1980’s saw Roy B. Constable Stores flooring business expand to employing up to 12 men doing flooring installations. Constable Stores became one of Armstrong Flooring and Mohawk Carpets top accounts in western Pennsylvania. The stores were awarded by Armstrong to be named an Armstrong Floor Fashion Center. Mohawk Carpeting named the stores a Mohawk Color Center. Because the stores were doing a large volume of flooring sales with quality installations in the late 1980’s, Roy B. Constable Stores were asked to join Carpet One, an elite group of flooring retailers who at the time numbered only 700 across the United States. Today Carpet One members are in Canada, Europe, and even Asian countries.
The furniture side of the business continued to expand to employ four full-time delivery men, a warehouse manager, and two used 14-foot box trucks to make deliveries. Quality upholstery brands included House of Edinboro, T. R. Taylor, and Nelson and Sons, furniture that was made in Pennsylvania. National corporation products including Bassett, Broyhill, Cochrane, La-Z-Boy, Schwerger, Kincaid, Stanley, fill the showroom floor.
Due to the increasing complexity of the business corporation with Neal handling the ever-growing flooring section, Roy M. leading the Kane store, Charlie assisting Jack Rosenhoover with the Johnsonburg store, and Michael overseeing the bookkeeping, the Corporation looks into key-man insurance should a death result which may affect cash flow until the Corporation is reorganized. In June 1982 key-man insurance is taken out for Roy M, Neal, and Charlie. That year many repairs are necessary on the Kane and Johnsonburg buildings including roofing and boilers.
Late in 1983 Roy B. Constable gifts 20 shares of his Class A voting stock to his grandchildren; Roy M. Neal, Charlie, and Michael. These end-of-year Class A stock gifts will continue until 1986 at which time Roy B. Constable is divested of all his Class A stock.
Looking ahead to expansion of the Johnsonburg store, Constable Stores purchases the former Alltronics and Western Auto store at 406 Center Street in October 1984 from John Casilio. Corporate cash flow is becoming problematic as accounts receivable are not being turned over quickly enough. The Corporation initiates the Bencharge system of Beneficial Finance to enable more financing for customers at a lower cost.
In January 1985 Neal and Charlie Constable are added to the Board of Directors alongside Roy B., Roy M., and Jack Rosenhoover. The Corporation purchases the Alltronics TV repair business and former Altronics owner David Stritenberger will become an employee of the store heading up the electronics repair business. The following year Jack Rosenhoover announces he will resign as manager of Johnsonburg Store with Charlie Constable taking over. Mr. Rosenhoover is contracted for one year as Sales and Purchasing consultant, renewed in 1987 and 1988.
The founder of Constable Stores Roy B. Constable dies in St. Marys, Pennsylvania on June 1, 1987. Roy B. was laid to rest in Thayer Cemetery in Ridgway, Pennsylvania. He resided at 351 North St. Marys Street in St. Marys, Pennsylvania after living for many years on Centre Street in Johnsonburg. He was preceded in death by his first wife Blanche and a daughter, Jaretta, and a son Melvin. Surviving were his second wife Alice and daughters; Gloria, Phyllis, and Peggy Ann. Roy B., with the help of his son Melvin and four grandsons, oversaw the growth of a small furniture store into a two-store enterprise that grew into a corporation. With his passing the Corporation is reorganized with Jack Rosenhoover elected Chairman and Michael Constable added to the Board of Directors. The financial position of the corporation is declared sound by the Board.
In May 1988 a computer system is installed to better track the Corporate accounts receivables. By October the system is considered a success as automated monthly statements have decreased accounts receivable. A Constable Stores innovation -a tent sale- is a huge success in September. Also, a possible Market Street building project is discussed and a meeting set up with Richard Cherry, Marty Schuller, and Mike Imbrogno, owners of the property on each side of the Constable Market Street store.
In another Constable Stores sales innovation, Preferred Customer Letters are sent out in December 1988, a marketing campaign that would be successful for many years.
The year 1989 began as a time of nervous excitement for Constable Stores and ended with anxious anticipation. The existing buildings that had housed the Altronics and D & D Auto stores were demolished in April to make way for the expansion of the Center Street store in Johnsonburg. It was assumed the expansion would increase sales. The Grand Opening of the new building was held in September and was a huge success. However, the beginning of a United States economic recessionary period 1989-1991 caused by inflation, tight monetary controls by the Federal Reserve, a lack of consumer confidence, higher unemployment, and increasing oil prices due to the Gulf War, helped dampen the Constable Stores business outlook. Sales were lagging by mid-year and were off 5% from the year prior. Cost of hospitalization increased from $1,600 a month to $4,000 a month. Changes were made in the agreement with Beneficial Finance to finance customer purchases through them and offer credit cards and Dubois Deposit Bank offered alternate financing plans for merchandise; despite these revenue enhancing moves and cost cutting, sales were off in 1989 by $130,000.
Approaching the Constable Stores 50th Anniversary in May 1990 losses were piling up as the Board of Directors struggled to handle the worst economic adversity in Constable Stores history. William Chiesa, another grandson of Roy B. Constable, and a Constable employee, was added to the Board of Directors, but with no Class A voting stock. “Bill’s” input would be essential for the advancement of the store’s flooring section lead by Neal Constable. Hospitalization was changed to a different provider due to the high cost of the present insurance and inventory control continued to be a problem. The Board of Directors issued new guidelines on who can make merchandise purchases and how much. New advertising direction was deemed necessary. In the “better news” department the Cherry Square Mall was to become a reality as the old buildings were torn down and construction beginning. It was ascertained that the traffic flow to the new mall would increase Constable business across the street. Throughout early 1990 losses grew but by the end of the year the Corporation was in the black due to better inventory control, quicker turnover of accounts receivable, changes to direct mailing ads from newspaper circulars, lower profit margins on goods sold to better compete with increasing competition, and the Preferred Customer Letter sales innovation. However, cash flow continued to be problematic.
Sales are down in 1991 due to the Gulf War and recession but the Board of Directors were confident that the strong financial position of company would carry the Corporation through for several months. Inventory issues, increasing overhead costs including building and vehicle repairs, higher taxes, and high insurance costs, affected profitability negatively throughout the year. In addition, employee problems related to workplace injuries, resignations, and absenteeism, resulted in carpet installation delays, hurting business. Employee loyalty became an issue for the Board. The Kane store profitability was hard hit due to a downturn in that area’s industries and economy.
In January 1992 for first time in many years the Corporation does not pay annual dividend. The Board of Directors initiates a new store slogan “Our Name Can’t Begin to Tell You Everything We Do”. The Board struggles to address the business downturn and accompanying issues; furniture buying trips are curtailed, workman’s compensation costs are reviewed and employee safety programs are instituted to cut costs, advertising costs are up from $9,000 to $12,000, inventory control is still an issue, and David Stritenberger, long-time service employee resigns. On the bright side, floorcoverings are now a major part of Constable Stores revenue; a fifth flooring crew is added. Also, in St. Marys, Pennsylvania a third store is to be added to the corporation in 1993.
A new Constable Stores venture, Furniture Just For Kids opens in St. Marys at the Shawmut Square Mall in January 1993, the Grand Opening is excellent but continuing sales are disappointing. The owners of the mall do not promote the store as they promised and losses pile up at the new venture at $4,000 a quarter. The store is closed at the end of the year.
Losses continue to mount for Constable Stores. The Board of Directors discuss new lines of buying credit, reduction of employee wages and lay-offs, inventory control, high cost of insurance and workman’s compensation, and reaching out to state politicians for relief of state taxes. No new buying is allowed, except for special orders.
In April, Jack Rosenhoover, Chairman, suggests Constable’s approach the Willamette Paper Mill about buying the Johnsonburg buildings and moving the store to St Marys. When Roy B. Constable started the Johnsonburg store in 1940 the population of Johnsonburg was nearly 5,000 (this did not include Rolfe, an adjoining community, which was not incorporated into Johnsonburg until the mid-1950’s). Even though the store prospered into the late 1980’s the population of the Johnsonburg community declined to 3,350 by 1990 (now including Rolfe) and factually about 60 percent of Johnsonburg’s Constable Stores business at the time came from St. Marys, Pennsylvania, 12 miles down the road; so Mr. Rosenhoover’s suggestion was not out of line as the Johnsonburg population and consequently, community buying power, was slowly ebbing.
In an attempt to improve employee morale the Board began an “Employee of the Month” award of a $50 cash prize, but no wage increases were approved for 1994 and although bonuses were paid to employees, Roy, Neal, and Charlie did not accept bonuses due to poor financial conditions.
By 1994 Constable Stores were well into the expansion from a single storefront in Johnsonburg to two larger updated stores in Kane and Johnsonburg with a wide array of products for sale, residential delivery, electronics repair, and industrial and residential floorcovering installation. This long-time family-owned retail enterprise had evolved from a Father/Son operation into a much larger company now managed by four grandsons of the founder and guided by venerable employee, Jack Rosenhoover. However, the growth of the company was not without its growing pains. Inventory control, overhead cost control, employee turnover, vehicle repair and acquisition, product lines, employee safety, cash flow issues, borrowing costs, employee training, advertising strategy, employee benefits, computerization, and tools and storage were just some of the problems that arose in the transition from furniture, appliance, and bedding retail to the addition of five full-time flooring crews. In the short-term a safety committee was organized to reduce workman’s compensation costs and for the long-term the Board approved a $180,000 mortgage on the Johnsonburg building to satisfy the old mortgage and to purchase three new vehicles in 1995 and three more in 1996. The vehicles necessary for the booming flooring business.
George S. May Inc. was hired as a consultant in 1995 to analyze the business and hopefully resolve some of the growing pain issues. The Board expected an organizational plan, employee motivation and retention suggestions, and cost reduction ideas. The May Company report suggested the implementation of a five-year plan for the stores, a sixth carpet crew, tool inventory, employee evaluations, management training, better inventory control, advertising cutbacks, and deletions of low profit margin product items such as lawnmowers, paint, and small curios.
Although 1995 ended as a profitable year for the Corporation 1996 brought many changes to the stores; different sales promotions were tried to generate more sales for the Company’s advertising dollar, Mohawk, long-time supplier, was replaced by Carpet One, the Board officially declared the four brothers operating the stores to be equal partners, tool inventory was begun, the Board determined that the Company should concentrate on carpet and flooring sales as those had surpassed furniture sales, and due to competition from Walmart, small appliances, telephones, radios, boom boxes, and scanner inventory would be curtailed. The start of a five-year plan for the Corporation was undertaken with an emphasis on strategy, business lines, maintenance, capital improvements, management, employee relations, and marketing.
As was typical throughout Constable Stores history charitable donations were given freely, carpeting was donated to Camp Mountain Run Scout Camp and the Johnsonburg Knothole. It is pertinent to note that throughout the Constable Stores history the Corporation continually supported area non-profits with monetary donations, labor, advertising, and merchandise, well into thousands of dollars.
Despite a small profit in 1996 wages were frozen for the Company for 1997 as the financial position of the stores were considered by the Board to be poor. Tool inventory continued to be an issue due to its cluttered nature and management and employee laxity. Tax assessment increases on the Kane store resulted in greater overhead costs and increases in workman’s compensation insurance again remained a serious drain on Company finances. Then on November 12, 1997 Margaret Constable the Corporate Treasurer passed away. As an officer on the Board of Directors she was involved in consultations of business decisions concerning the future of Constable Stores.
Due to strong flooring sales a small profit was earned for 1997 but merchandise sales were weak. In August 1998 the Company purchased a Capital One cleaning franchise and changed its insurance, now going with Hartford. More employees were needed for the cleaning business and employee numbers increased. In 1998 the Company broke even.
For 1999 Oreck sweepers were added to the product line while cribs and juvenile furniture was discontinued, insurance costs increased 17 percent. In December of that year in Gaithersburg, Maryland Jack Rosenhoover, at the home of his daughter Kathy, died of liver cancer. Jack was instrumental in moving the Store’s forward, an excellent salesman who grew to know furniture and flooring. With the loss of Melvin, he was a mentor to Roy M., Neal, Charlie, and Mike.
In January 2000 Roy M. Constable was elected Chairman of the Board replacing Jack Rosenhoover. Neal was now Vice-President, Charlie, Secretary, and Mike, Treasurer. Insurance policies for key employees were changed to term insurance to reduce costs, the rear section of the Rose building in Kane was torn down, and a small profit was gleaned for the year.
In a continuing attempt to boost sales, television advertising began in January 2001. Carpet One closed its cleaning business franchise support in the same year, leaving Constable’s on their own to continue the carpet cleaning. Weak economic conditions persisted and monthly losses mounted; overhead, roof repair, repair work on Kane Rose building, and increased gas costs do not help the situation. No wage increases are granted for 2002 as 2001 ends with a serious loss. At the end of the year Constable Stores is recognized for the Corporation’s contributions to the new fire department building in Johnsonburg.
As 2002 begins Roy M. Constable is President of the Elk County Savings and Loan, where he has served as a director since 1986, and when the manager of that bank becomes ill Roy M. takes over operations at the bank; this situation will reduce the hours he can spend at the Kane store and his compensation is adjusted accordingly. In Kane, Tony Raymondo who owns his own clothing store, accepts the position at Constable’s as carpet cleaning manager. Despite weakened sales the Corporation donates $500 to the East End Playground in Johnsonburg. For the first time in Corporate history Christmas hours are not extended and the cost-cutting measure does not seem to hurt sales. The year ends with a small profit.
David Toth, a Kane store employee, is added to the Corporate Board of Directors in January 2003. Dave began as a delivery person, but fit in with the future plans of the store and his input on operations made him a desirable fit for the Corporation.
In another cost-cutting move the Company payroll is switched to a new provider and talk of discontinuing the sale of appliances and televisions is discussed by the Board; Big Box stores are too much competition. It is decided to discontinue the items in early 2004. The carpet cleaning truck, which had been leased from Capital One, is purchased and a website for the stores is contemplated but not acted on. A small loss is realized for the Corporation for the year.
The loss of the previous year weighs on the minds of the Board of Directors with rapidly increasing health costs and lingering sales a major concern. It is thought that the officers of the Corporation may have to cut salaries if sales do not improve and if costs are not brought into line. In June 2004 a new health insurance plan is in effect saving $30,000. In July a severe thunder storm in Johnsonburg threatens to flood the store but quick action by employees limits the damage. In July David Toth resigns as an employee and board member to follow other interests. Later in the year the appliance and television close out sale is consummated. Economic conditions are weak and a major loss is garnered for the year; no wage increases are approved. The Board of Directors are continually searching for ideas to increase profits and cut costs. Breakeven points have been difficult to ascertain in recent years.
In the beginning of 2005 the Board determines that charitable cash donations will have to be suspended due to the deficit financial position of the Corporation. A long-term advertising contract is discontinued to save money and after much consideration it is agreed heath insurance costs are greatly affecting the Corporate bottom line. New guidelines on employee coverage will be instituted: only employees not covered by other insurance will be covered, only employees will be covered, not their families, employees will be permitted to buy insurance for rest of family and current employee families will be covered until employees can find new insurance. In a further cost-cutting move cellphone service is changed to Verizon. A small profit is gained for the year and bonuses are paid but no wage increases are in order.
Despite cost reduction moves, constant sales promotions, attention to inventory purchases, and reduction of charitable contributions, the 2006 year ends with a substantial loss. The Board discusses the discontinuing of summer furniture and questions the balance between advertising and sales. Remodeling of the Kane building also affects bottom line.
A new Commonwealth law increasing employee minimum wage will increase employee wages in 2007 and beyond. New computers and new vehicles are purchased throughout the year. Corporation shows small profit for the year due to sell-down of inventory.
The new health insurance plan is implemented in September 2008. The Corporation continues to work on a website. Inventory control is a constant issue as purchases/sales fluctuate season to season and the Corporation struggles with how much product to buy to cover future sales. The loss for the year reaches $50,000.
2009 is a year of turmoil for Constable Stores. Wages remain the same and to stimulate business a 50% off Manufacture List Price is attempted at the Johnsonburg and Kane stores with some success but with a lower profit margin. Roy M., Neal, Charlie, and Bill Chiesa agree to accept a one-third pay cut. The Board sends employees notice that only one in the past five years has been profitable for the Company. Employee purchase and employee accounts receivables rules are tightened. The current recession is having a dramatic negative effect on Company finances, changes are made on customer credit and inventory control, no new vehicles are purchased and contribution and advertising requests are denied. The cost-cutting measures work and the profit for the year is $41,000. Advertising begins on the Company website but the future is suspect; flooring backlog, usually eight weeks, stands at four weeks. The Board also feels the new Johnsonburg bypass will affect Johnsonburg store sales negatively. Sadly, in June employee Kathy Stelene dies due to cancer complications after 25 years of Company service.
From 2010 to 2018 Constable Stores grapples with the same problems that have plagued its bottom line for more than the past decade; increasing insurance and employee costs, building maintenance and vehicle repair and replacement costs, weak inventory control, dismal economic conditions, supplier issues (Berkline Furniture Corporation folds in 2011), and uncertain cash flow requiring costly periodic borrowing against a line of credit. The carpet cleaning business is discontinued in 2015 due to retirement of key personnel and employee turnover remains an issue in regards to replacement and training costs. Changes are made to insurance, electric service, wages are frozen, and direct deposit of paychecks is introduced to reduce costs. Small profits are earned in 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2014. Small losses are incurred in 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. Even catchy radio advertising and novel sales promotions like IRS- “Inventory Reduction Sale” cannot reverse the red ink.
In 2018 the Board seriously discusses selling the Kane and Johnsonburg businesses in two to four years but by 2019 it is clear that the reign of Constable Stores is coming to an end; sales are lower than can ever be remembered. In June Charlie Constable, manager of the Johnsonburg store undergoes four heart bypasses while being prepped for the repair of an old ankle injury. All attempts to sell the stores fall through and in January 2020 the Constable Stores Board of Directors approve to liquidate. In February the Board agrees to a $15,000 buyout of Michael Constable’s principal stock. To protect its employees during the coronavirus shutdown, in April 2020 the Roy B. Constable Stores Inc. takes out a $54,841 Payroll Protection Loan through Northwest Bank. As typical for the Company over the years the Small Business Administration reported in December 2020 that the loan was “Paid-in-Full.” In June 2020 Charlie Constable announces that after 80 years of continuous business Constable Stores was closing its business and liquidating its merchandise. After the liquidation the Kane buildings were sold in September 2020, the warehouse is sold in December, and the Johnsonburg building was sold at auction in October 2021.
SUMMARY
Most new businesses fold after two years but Constable Stores was able to transition from selling light home furnishings to appliances, to electronics, to whole home furniture, to complete floorcovering sales and installation, over an 80 year period. The resiliency of the Stores was remarkable to say the least; through three generations of leadership, recessions, floods, employee turnover, inflation, and periodic physical plant structural damages and upgrades, Constable Stores was able to struggle, make good decisions and thrive and prosper, from providing for one household to two households to eventually four extended families. Other than the Johnsonburg Paper Mill and the Johnsonburg Newsstand no other Johnsonburg business entity survived longer than Constable Stores, not the Johnsonburg National Bank, not Zierden’s, not G. C. Murphy, not the A & P or Market Basket, and certainly none under the same ownership. It is a business phenomenon Johnsonburg will likely never experience again. It is already sorely missed.
NOTES
In May 1988 Roy M., Neal, Charlie, and Michael Constable along with Richard Cherry, Michael Imbrogno, and Martin Schuller formed the Cherry Square Partnership and Corporation to build a mini-mall bordering Cobb, Market, and Centre Streets to be titled the Cherry Square Mall. A year later the Corporation purchased the former Knights of Columbus building from the Uni-Mart Corporation for $34,850 and proceeded to renovate the building into four two-bedroom apartments and retail space.
In March 1990 Kessel Construction was awarded the contract for the construction of the Cherry Square Mall for the bid price of $368,000. By June, the construction was well under way and 40% of the mall space had been rented out. By November the building was completed with the exception of inside work dependent on the incoming tenants. Penntech Credit Union was the first mall tenant with Harriet Stahli’s Hometown 5 & 10 following in April 1991. On December 1, 1991 the Cherry Square Mall was 100% occupied. The building was sold in October 2021 to Toth’s Dental.
In March 1992 all of the Knights of Columbus apartments were rented. However, the rental property was not successful as continual rent arrears and constant heating/cooling maintenance and physical asset repairs to the old building mounted. It was eventually sold to Elk Regional Professional Group (then part of St. Marys Hospital) in 2006 for $40,000.
As of 2023 the Constable Brothers, Roy M., Neal, and Charlie are all retired with the exception of Mike who died September 15, 2023.
Roy M. graduated from Gannon College (now Gannon University) in 1971 and upon graduation was commissioned Army 2nd Lieutenant serving nine years in the Army Reserve and commanding the unit still established in St. Marys, Pennsylvania. As director and President of the Elk County Savings and Loan he was instrumental in the merger with the Enclaire Corporation which is Farmer’s National Bank. A Kane Rotary Club member Roy is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow, also a Past Exalted Ruler in the Elks, and served and belonged on many boards and clubs in Kane and Johnsonburg,
Roy married Rita Halloran and they have three daughters, Stacey Rippey, Tricia Schwabenbauer, and Julie Campione, and six grandchildren, Rayna, Reagan, Ryan Jr. (deceased), Mary, Calvin, and Louie.
Neal has been a Johnsonburg Volunteer Fire Department member since 1973 beginning with the East End Hose Company and is instrumental in combining the three former Johnsonburg Fire Departments into one building where he has served as President since 1997. He belongs and serves on many local clubs and boards.
Neal married Beth Wonderly in 1976, they have three children, Renee (deceased), Paula, and Andy and five grandchildren, David, Dan, Leaha, Collette, and Edwin.
Charlie has served on many boards and organizations. As President of the Johnsonburg Community Cable Company he was instrumental in the sale of the company to Zito Media.
Charlie married Jean Paladino in 1977 and they have two children, Victor and Kelsie, and two grandchildren, Lyle and Lenora.
Roy, Neal, and Charlie where partners in Conbros Farms where they raised beef cattle and horses. Now Neal and Charlie presently still farm the land and raise hay.
Many thanks to the Constable brothers for access to their Corporation minute books, other documentation, and supporting input.
Kevin “Reg” Barwin
2023
Kevin Barwin, a Johnsonburg native, who spent his youth peddling newspapers in Johnsonburg and reading the newsprint, while walking his routes, acquired a taste for the past.
THE PAPER BOY FROM THE PAPER CITY, More on his book: here