Berdine's Five and Dime facts for kids

Berdine's Five and Dime is a really old store located at 106 N. Court Street in Harrisville, West Virginia. It's a special kind of shop called a "five and dime" store. You can find it in Ritchie County. This store sells all sorts of fun and old-fashioned items. You might see cool tin toys, pretty glass Christmas ornaments from the Czech Republic, funny gag items, penny candies, and other unique things. Berdine's celebrated its 100th birthday in 2008. People say it's West Virginia's oldest Five and Dime store. It's "full of the stuff you used to see at 5 and 10 cent stores... in every small town in America." The store still has its original old-fashioned candy counter, wooden shelves, and cool tin ceilings.

What is a Five and Dime Store?

A "five and dime" store was a type of shop that was very popular a long time ago. They were also called "dime stores" or "variety stores." These stores sold many different kinds of items. Most things were very cheap, often costing just five or ten cents. They were places where you could find almost anything. This included toys, candy, school supplies, and small household items. Berdine's Five and Dime keeps this old tradition alive.

The Store's Long History

Berdine's Five and Dime has a very interesting past. It has been around for over 100 years!

How Berdine's Started

The store first opened its doors in 1908. Two brothers, K.C. Berdine and Lafayette, started it. Their first store was called Hunt and Berdines. It was located at the corners of Court and Main Streets. The store was very popular right away. Because it was so successful, they decided to move to a bigger place.

The Current Building

In 1915, the store moved to its current home. This building was made just for the five and dime store. It's a famous white-and-black building with two stories. Today, the store is on the first floor. Upstairs, a group called the Independent Order of Odd Fellows meets. K.C.'s son, Fred, took over the store in 1954. He ran it until 1983. After that, the Six family bought the store. They have owned it ever since.

A Historic Place

Berdine's Five and Dime is an important part of the Harrisville Historic District. This means the building and its history are protected. It helps people remember what small towns in America used to be like.