Wrights observing store's 75th

Wally Wright, third generation owner of Wright Pro Hardware, is observing the 75th anniversary of the store's opening this week. Photo by Sunny Manary. On September 3, 1933, a young entrepreneur stepped off a river boat looking for a new venture. “Grandpa” Eugene Wright came to Cathlamet to see what was going on. He asked Herbert Faubion, the first person he met when he stepped off the boat, about a good place to open a business.

Faubion pointed up the hill to what was the old creamery. Wright found the owner and after negotiations, “Wright Furniture and Hardware” was born. It is a business that has been a Cathlamet landmark since that very day.

Wally Wright, owner of Wright Pro-Hardware and Grandson of Eugene Wright and coincidentally later on, Herbert Faubion, has been in charge of the store since 1985.

The arrival of the boats was an exciting event in the 1930’s. Wally’s mother, Effie (Faubion) was with a girlfriend watching with the rest of the town. Art Wright was with his father Eugene and when Effie saw him, she knew he was the man for her.

In 1933, The Depression was still affecting much of the US. Eugene moved from city to city in hopes of settling down somewhere to start his business. “It was hard to make a living selling hardware during The Depression,” Wally said.

The Wright’s came to Cathlamet because at the time, Wally’s Uncle Otis was trying to earn college money by selling silk hosiery for ladies, which was considered a luxury item.

Instead of getting doors slammed in his face, Wally said Otis would be invited in for cake, cookies and coffee with cream and sugar. Those were items that were on ration lists in other areas of the country.

“In Cathlamet, it was normal fair,” Wally said. People in Cathlamet didn’t know it was The Depression unless someone told them. They weren’t suffering like other parts of the country. The fishing, farming and logging industries were still active.

When the building was erected, builders didn’t use enough cement, Wally said. “If you go outside and rub your hand on the wall, you can wear a hole in the wall.” Because they didn’t use enough cement in the floor either, when they tried to make a basement, the floor collapsed.

After that, they put in walls of wood and made a series of small apartments. The upstairs was Odd Fellow’s Hall. The kitchen, cloak room and the main ballroom have been taken over for storage.

The stage still exists, but is now buried under hose, Wally said. Most people haven’t been upstairs. It’s like a treasure hunt. Those brave enough to do so love to look around.

For Dad Art, work was a vacation. He wasn’t the type that needed to take time off. Work was his recreation. “It was fun for him,” Wally said. Art took over operation of the store when his father, Eugene, died in the 1940’s, before Wally was born.

Art worked up until two weeks before he died. After several surgeries, he still had circulation problems in his legs. Effie put him in the rocking chair at the store and she sat in the chair behind the counter.

When Art passed away in 1985, instead of staying at home, Effie worked in the store with Wally so she could visit with the shoppers. It was therapy for her, Wally said. Effie sat in the same rocking chair for the next 23 years.

When Effie died earlier this year, her memorial service was packed with mourners, Wally said. She started her marriage to Art in the apartment in the back of the store, which is now used for merchandise. “It’s a different store. It wasn’t designed to be a retail establishment, it was made into one.”

In 1988, Wright Furniture and Hardware became affiliated with Pro, an advertising group that works with manufacturers and negotiates for sale items. Since the merger, they have been known as Wright Pro Hardware.

By being associated with Pro, Wally has options on how often to subscribe to sales. He can subscribe up to six major sales per year. If Pro were to fold, Wally would still own the merchandise in the building, but wouldn’t have the advantage of buying future items at reduced costs. He would have to deal with individual vendors.

The 75th anniversary is of great importance to Wally. He has spent the past 23 years of his life keeping the store open. “It’s kind of sad that someday it will probably cease to exist,” Wally said, slightly choking up.

He said both his children have careers of their own and it is unlikely someone could operate the business without a secondary income. “It’s seasonal. You can’t make a wage at it. It’s basically a hobby business now.”

It does allow him to take on additional responsibilities within the community. He is a member of the Cathlamet Fire Department, is running for County Commissioner, and works with the City Council.

“How long the store will exist is unknown,” he said. There are times where he has had to usher people out of the store to go on an aid call. There is no one there to keep an eye on things.

It is a challenge to operate the business right now, he said. There isn’t enough business to make a salary. It pays for taxes, the heating and electric bills, but that is about it.

“It’s a dying business.” There aren’t the farms or dairies around like there used to be. Wally says he wants to follow in his father’s footsteps, albeit big steps, he said. “I can easily see myself working for another 10 years here, but after that, who’s going to want this? It violates the three major rules of business; location, location, location.”

An anniversary celebration is planned for September 13 beginning at 11 a.m. at Wright Pro Hardware on Broadway. The public is invited for a hot dog and a soda and to enter a drawing for door prizes.