Law Bros. Hardware, Loomis, CA
Ghost sign for the Law Brothers Hardware store, 3690 Taylor Road, Loomis, California. Albert and Seth Law opened Law Brothers as a fruit shipping firm in 1908, then expanded to sell farm implements, hardware, hay and grain. Their store, constructed of concrete blocks to be fire resistant, was built in 1922 and completely destroyed by flames in 1939.
Law Brothers rebuilt and reopened in 1940. The new building was 100x50 feet, the same length as before but only half as wide. A tin awning extending from the front of the store to the street was supported by posts at the curb. (It was trimmed back a few feet in 1986 to make room for trees for a downtown beautification project.)
At 4 o’clock one morning in 1943, considerable damage was done to the awning when a car hit the posts, knocking out all but one. Nightwatchman Harold Bywater was unable to get there before the car drove off, but he did get the license plate number. The car was occupied by three soldiers from Oregon.
Seth left the business to devote himself full-time to his veterinary practice. In 1947, Albert took in his son Frank as a partner. Albert retired in 1952, and Frank operated the business alone until 1955 when his brother-in-law, Jim Johnson, became his new partner.
Previously employed as chief engineer at radio station KXOB in Stockton, Jim was a broadcast engineer for local stations including KAHI, KHYL, KPOP and KPIP. He and Frank took Law Brothers in a new direction, specializing in sales and service of radio and electronic equipment.
In 1961, they were awarded a distributorship for Alpeco 2-way citizens band radios. Already in use by the Loomis Fire Department and several individuals, the radios proved invaluable for house-to-car and office-to-mobile unit communications. Licensing was no problem. Applicants need only fill out a form to obtain a permit.
Law Brothers also was a Zenith dealership, selling, installing and repairing televisions and stereos. Frank and Jim made house calls for TV repair.
Law Brothers closed their doors for the last time in August 1988, bringing the 80-year-old family business to an end. The building now is home to Loomis Ace Hardware.
Law Bros. Hardware, Loomis, CA
Ghost sign for the Law Brothers Hardware store, 3690 Taylor Road, Loomis, California. Albert and Seth Law opened Law Brothers as a fruit shipping firm in 1908, then expanded to sell farm implements, hardware, hay and grain. Their store, constructed of concrete blocks to be fire resistant, was built in 1922 and completely destroyed by flames in 1939.
Law Brothers rebuilt and reopened in 1940. The new building was 100x50 feet, the same length as before but only half as wide. A tin awning extending from the front of the store to the street was supported by posts at the curb. (It was trimmed back a few feet in 1986 to make room for trees for a downtown beautification project.)
At 4 o’clock one morning in 1943, considerable damage was done to the awning when a car hit the posts, knocking out all but one. Nightwatchman Harold Bywater was unable to get there before the car drove off, but he did get the license plate number. The car was occupied by three soldiers from Oregon.
Seth left the business to devote himself full-time to his veterinary practice. In 1947, Albert took in his son Frank as a partner. Albert retired in 1952, and Frank operated the business alone until 1955 when his brother-in-law, Jim Johnson, became his new partner.
Previously employed as chief engineer at radio station KXOB in Stockton, Jim was a broadcast engineer for local stations including KAHI, KHYL, KPOP and KPIP. He and Frank took Law Brothers in a new direction, specializing in sales and service of radio and electronic equipment.
In 1961, they were awarded a distributorship for Alpeco 2-way citizens band radios. Already in use by the Loomis Fire Department and several individuals, the radios proved invaluable for house-to-car and office-to-mobile unit communications. Licensing was no problem. Applicants need only fill out a form to obtain a permit.
Law Brothers also was a Zenith dealership, selling, installing and repairing televisions and stereos. Frank and Jim made house calls for TV repair.
Law Brothers closed their doors for the last time in August 1988, bringing the 80-year-old family business to an end. The building now is home to Loomis Ace Hardware.