University of North Carolina at Asheville
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Title |
Joe Lingerfelt Jr. and Charlie McAdams Oral History |
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Creator |
Dorothy Joynes for Voices of Asheville Oral History Collection |
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Subject |
LCSH: |
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Subject |
Keyword: |
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Description |
Lingerfelt discusses the hardware business begun by his grandfather in 1929. By offering personal service, they continue to compete with the discount chain stores. McAdams, long-time store employee, describes his service in the armed forces and his work with the hardware store. |
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Publisher |
D. H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, University of North Carolina at Asheville, NC, 28804 |
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Contributor |
Joe Lingerfelt Jr. and Charlie McAdams |
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Date |
Electronic Record Issued: 2001-07-05 |
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Type |
Sound ; Text ; Image |
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Format |
Physical Description: 1 90-minute audiocassette ; 13 color photos ; 5-page abstract ; newspaper articles |
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Identifier |
http://toto.lib.unca.edu/findingaids/oralhistory/VOA/I_M/McAdams_Lingerfelt.html |
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Source |
OH-VOA L56 Jo |
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Language |
English |
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Relation |
References: VOA Mary Hyde Oral History ; VOA Mother Margaret Potts Oral History ; VOA Sister Kathleen Winters Oral History |
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Coverage |
1925-1994 ; Biltmore, NC |
| Rights | No restrictions: Copyright retained by the authors of certain items in the collection or their descendents, as stipulated by United States copyright law. |
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Acquisition |
Donor number: 146 ; Date of acquisition: 1998 |
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Processed By |
Dorothy Joynes, Ruth Beard, Marilyn Ferikes and staff |
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Interview Date |
1994-01-08 |
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Interview Location |
Biltmore Hardware Co., 32 Hendersonville Rd., Asheville, NC |
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Biography |
Born Sept. 5, 1921, McAdams is a native of Greenville, SC, but a resident of Asheville since childhood. He went to Stephens-Lee High School. He was in the Army three times and retired in 1975 after 34 years of service. Between times of service in the Army, he worked for Biltmore Hardware Co. |
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List of names |
[1/273] Hyde, Mary [Intro] [1/275] Lingerfelt, Charles [1/220] Lingerfelt, Donna [1/15] Lingerfelt, Joe Sr. [1/220] Lingerfelt, Joshua [1/220] Lingerfelt, Ken [1/220] Lingerfelt, Michael [1/220] Lingerfelt, Tanya [1/361] McAdams, Bernard [1/361] McAdams, Bertha [1/361] McAdams, Charlie [1/361] McAdams, Debora [1/361] McAdams, Ethel [1/361] McAdams, Jimmy [1/361] McAdams, Larry [1/275] Patton, General (3rd army) [1/37] Potts, Mother Margaret [1/324] Tart, Ed [1/37] Winters, Sister Kathleen |
Side 1:Lingerfelt's grandfather started the hardware store in 1929. He decided to come to Asheville when working for the railroad in the mid-1925's. At first he was in business with his brother. The building was at one time a hotel. [Charles Lingerfelt] [15] His father grew up in Asheville, played football for the Asheville High School, went to Rollins College on a scholarship and fought with the Navy in the Pacific in WWII. [Joe Lingerfelt Sr.] [31] He always worked with his father, went to Gibbons Hall (grades 1-8), Asheville High School and Western Carolina. [37] He describes Gibbons Hall which he said offered good instructions in sports and religion. Classes were small and teachers the best in the field. (see tapes by Potts and Winters) [Mother Potts, Sister Winters] [55] Hardware business has its ups and downs but is successful because its "a natural" - everyone needs it. They give the personal touch. Big enterprises like Lowe's (was next door - now moved to Tunnel Road) is in the building, not hardware, business. They are an asset to each other. [74] Customers come from Hendersonville, Canton, Fairview. They are convenient for residents living in Kenilworth, Skyland and outlying areas. [80] They carry a tremendous inventory and need to be well-stocked. Their "hands on" and special ordering services make them unique. [97] It takes a long time to learn the business. Quarterly inventory is taken. He is not computerized. [126] People have been coming to his store over 40 years. He does not see big companies competing but in the future he feels he needs to have a faster turnover, become more streamlined, while retaining the same philosophy. [129] He discusses the building of the Biltmore House, the Village, Church and Depot (before his time - he gave me a picture to Xerox). There was hardly any business during 1925-30 and many businesses closed. He can't remember any left from that period except perhaps the real estate company Money-Worth (26 Lodge St.) which may have been a brokerage firm. [155] Aside from the Hot Shot there were no restaurants but, because of the Biltmore House and Village, restaurants are drawn to the area and real estate is being valued. [169] The future of Asheville depends on the economy and the tourist trade (Grove Park Hotel and Biltmore Estate). [181] The loss of the passenger train may have had an adverse effect on the economy. Rides from Tennessee to Old Fort are popular. [190] His business relations with construction companies in town go back 30-35 years: i.e. Perry Alexander, Asheville Paving, Beverly Grant Construction, Buncombe Construction. [206] His loyalty to suppliers and personal relations with customers has given his store stability. [220] He names his family. They are all busy in Asheville. His wife has a full-time job with the family. [Donna Lingerfelt, Tanya, Michael, Joshua, and Ken Lingerfelt] [background noise - heater - it's cold] [234] He gives credit to his grandfather for founding the business and his father for his business knowledge and success. [Train goes by - a long one!] [246] His merchandise is shipped from ACE warehouse in Charlotte and Orville Bros. out of Tennessee. [257] The train that goes through the city runs to Champion Paper with wood pulp. [262] The airline has no impact on him or his business Lingerfelt had to go back to his customer so I interviewed Charlie McAdams. [273] We discussed the Biltmore Museum (see Hyde tape) [Mary Hyde] [275] Charlie was born in Greenville but came with his parents to Asheville, went to the Stephens-Lee High School (enclosure) after graduating from Hill Street Jr. High. He worked at the Hardware store after hours and on weekends. In the 40's he served in WWII. He had three hitches and each time he came out he worked at the store. Under the guidance of the original Mr. Lingerfelt, he took courses in warehouse management, business organization and in 1951 went to Blanton's South-eastern Commercial College, where he took accounting, law and salesmanship. [General Patton, 3rd army, Charlie Lingerfelt] [300] He was called back in the army during the Korean War and helped map out plans for the army today - how to cope with the GI's. The third time he went back he was chosen along with 150,000 to work over the pay-roll system [and I believe integration plans and practices.] [318] The first time he went into the service the army was not integrated. In Texas, later, they were "mixed up like eggs." [Kennedy Administration, Nixon Administration] [324] He always came back to the store. It takes a long time to break a person in - you have to take them under your wing. One man trained for years, then was with Lowe's, then managed the store and "retired a millionaire." [Ed Tart] [361] He names his family - with pictures - very proud: Return to Top Oral History Collections
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