During the depression most young men were unemployed. In 1932 Robert L. (Bob) Swaim found himself unemployed after he was laid off from the hardware store he worked at. He was an independent and ambitious young man with thoughts of managing his own business. Bob rented a building located at 240 Wall street which is 240 First S.W. Street now. This building has been the entrance to Swaim Hardware fo
r over 84 years. He emptied his mothers shed of blacksmith's tools, horse collars, etc. that came from the blacksmiths shop of his late father. He also cleaned and organized carriage houses and garages in exchange for the owners unwanted items. These items were the beginning of Swaim Hardware. Has a customer entered they saw horse collars and bridles just like you see when you walk in today. As they walked down the aisle they would see cast iron skillets, churns, ice cream makers crock jars, oil lamps. red wagons, tricycles, snow sleds and cast iron heaters. These are all stock items you can buy here still today. Bob promptly added new items for the farmers and building supplies for the builders. He realized the vinegar plant, box and crate factories, cotton gins, laundries, bakeries and saw mills needed machine parts, belts, bearings and saws delivered quickly. He promised to deliver all orders in 24 hrs. To this day Swaim Hardware promises a quick delivery of machine parts that factories in the Paris area may need. Factories have always been a large part of the Swaim Hardware business. The location of Swaim hardware was perfect for the farmers. When they came to Paris each Saturday to get their supplies for the week they would park at the market square. Their first stop would be at Swaims to buy their needs such as pitch forks, cotton sacks, bailing wire, barbwire, pumps etc. They would leave their purchases to be picked up later. They would go shopping on the plaza and maybe attend a movie. On the way back to their truck they would pick up their load at the hardware store. During World War II, Swaim Hardware provided building materials for Camp Maxey through out the entire time the camp was open. When the war ended he bought back supplies that the army had not used. Soon the Lamar County solders returned home and took advantage of the G.I. Their education enabled them to buy a house with a G.I. loan. The busy home builders knew they could get their orders promptly from Swaim Hardware. Immediately, the paint, plumbing and electrical departments were expanded. In the 1950s, the builders began pouring concrete foundations and immediately, the back lot was stacked with rebar and later plastic pipe. in the late 1940s and 1950s, Swaim Wholesale Company had a salesman that traveled through out northeast Texas and parts of Oklahoma calling on small hardware stores, saw mills and cotton gins. As the inventory enlarged they expanded their floor space. Over the years the business spread into other buildings in the block that had been occupied by a café and feed store as well as a furniture store and electrical store. The now large warehouse was once North East Texas Motors Lines. Robert Swaims son, Freddy Swaim, began working here as a young teenager loading delivery trucks, stocking new inventory and taking inventory. He Worked for Huey Phillips Wholesale Hardware in Dallas for a short time to observe their methods. These jobs taught him the inventory and how to manage the store. When Bob died April, 1979, Freddy was ready to fill his dad's shoes. He has been able to keep the stores old charm and character while expanding the business over the years. Swaim Hardware is still Family Owned and in the Original Location since 1932.
