Main Street Musings: Roy Reineke Hardware Store

Roy Reineke and his son, Bill, at the Hardware Store in the mid-1930's

Roy Reineke grew up in Raymond and attended grade school and high school in Raymond. After graduation, he took a commercial course at Gem City College in Quincy. Upon completion of the course, Roy returned to Raymond and went to work for Ellis Henderson, a grocer and hardware merchant, and also worked as a bookkeeper for the Darlington Lumber Company. 

Roy purchased the hardware end of the business from Mr. Henderson and founded the Roy Reineke Hardware Store in 1912. A new store was constructed by Roy for his business at the corner of Broad and McGown Streets in 1917. 

He continued operating the business until his death in November 1956. His son, William “Bill” Reineke, operated the hardware business from 1956 -1966. Bill married Mary Lee Holmes of Farina, Illinois and both of them were long-time educators in the Panhandle School District. 

The photo and information above appear in Raymond's 125 Memories Book, published in 1996.