Damariscotta Hardware held its first Ladies Day on April 20.
“We’ve had Ladies’ Nights for four years,” said Susan Geyer, “and we had to take reservations for those events and turned away a lot of people. We thought it was time to do a full day event.”
Each woman who attended was given a scratch-off ticket with a discount ranging from 15-50 percent off her entire purchase.
Jen Parrington, from West Bath, had come into the store for the first time, to pick up a few trash bags for spring cleanup.
“I can’t waste a 35 percent discount on just trash bags,” she said, “so I’m getting my gardening supplies and a new saucepan, too.” The lines at the checkout registers indicated success for the scratch ticket discounts.
Shoppers, treated to freshly brewed coffee and donuts, took part in demonstrations throughout the morning.
Later in the day, cheese sampling, sandwiches and cupcakes from King Eider’s Pub were made available. Damariscotta Hardware store had the welcome mat out in style.
Shelley’s Flowers, of Waldoboro, designed floral arrangements with a whimsical touch that were placed throughout the store. In the painting supply area, the flowers were mixed with everything from paint brushes to steel wool and masking tape. In the cooking aisle, the flowers peeked between honey dippers, spatulas and scrubbing pads.
Techniques for making bracelets, aprons, suspenders and dresses from duct tape were demonstrated by store employees Jessica Sylvester and Kristen Dodge.
Sylvester made bowties, neckties and suspenders, as well as bows, bracelets and headbands sported by store employees all day. Dodge wore an apron created by Susan Geyer who also acted as greeter for arriving guests.
Throughout the day everything from how to fix a leaky toilet to decorating planting pots was demonstrated.
Basics of canning and preserving were taught by Julie from Julie’s Greenhouse and Farm stand. Midcoast Audubon cleared up misconceptions about bats.
Milwaukee Tool took the mystery out of many power tools. The versatile tools were demystified to the chagrin of Charlie and Jake Powers who were there with their wives.
“Now look at that,” said Charlie. “She knows how to use that drill and it ain’t (sic) that hard. I’ve been telling her it was wicked complicated for years.”
“Worse than that,” said Jake, “now the wives know that the hardware [store] is just a grown-up toy store. We’ll never get to come and wander around shopping without them again.”
At that juncture, Charlie’s cap was snatched off and he was roundly smacked on his head by a laughing woman, one assumes was said wife.
It was that kind of good humor and fun that filled Damariscotta Hardware on Saturday.
The pluses for the business added up as tallies are completed, but the community spirit went far beyond the day’s sales.
Store founder and community friend Bob Gardiner, who opened the store in 1955, held his store to high standards. He was a community supporter of every single need in the area, from donations to benefits to helping kids out with their first summer job. He was a presence on Saturday as customers reminisced.
“I can’t help but think that Bob is grinning from ear-to-ear today,” said one employee, “he loved to see people having fun and give a good deal.”
Dickie Westhaver, 89, was there with his granddaughter and he summed it up, saying, “Used to be we had places where the whole town would stop in and you’d see old friends and catch up, and get your nails, too. I used to love the downtown store years back for that. This is like the old days. I hope they do this again.”
