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Sharp's Family Tradition (History,
Founders, Old Pictures)
Store History
In 1917 Charles L. Sharp began Sharp's Furniture in a small building at
110 West Chestnut Street, Washington, PA. Three years later he
purchased the property from Joseph M. Sprigs & Sons and in 1922
rebuilt the front section with new display windows. Charles Sharp had
gained his first experience in the furniture business working for nine
years with the Poyelson Company, which had been located on North Main
Street, Washington. Boyd S. Sharp joined his brother in the
business in 1923, following his graduation from Washington &
Jefferson College. The local press recorded that "these young men are
well and favorably known in Washington having lived all their lives
here." Their father, L.B. Sharp, had conducted a grocery business on
South Main Street, Washington, for nearly 40 years prior to his
retirement in 1920.
Early in 1925 the old building housing Sharp's was raised and a new
structure created. The new building on West Chestnut Street had a
frontage of 26 feet and a depth of 150 feet - reflecting 120 feet of
addition to the relatively new display window section. The new
structure, three stories high, provided 11,700 square feet for the
display of furniture, floor coverings and other household lines. A
section on the lower floor was equipped as a modern repair, shipping
and work room. At the rear of the main building was a large loading
yard roofed over so that trucks could be loaded without exposure to the
weather. In the extreme rear of the lot was a large three story
warehouse facing on Pine Avenue. The first floor of this building
contained the boiler and coal bins for the new heating plant. Part of
the building was used as a garage for delivery trucks and the upper
floors were for excess furniture stock. The new facility,
done by
local firms, was reported to be "exceptionally and artistically
lighted, with the newest fixtures." Among these fixtures was a rug rack
for the display of 160 room size rugs. With the new building, the
arrangement of the floors and the convenience afforded to customers,
Sharp's Furniture was recognized as "one of the best to be found
anywhere."
The new store at 110 West Chestnut Street held a formal opening on
December 14 and 15, 1925. The general public was invited to visit and
inspect this modern facility. The key statements from that 1925
invitation ring true today - "we are well prepared to care for your
needs in our various lines" -- and "our invitation to you is not to
urge you to buy, but to inspect and visit…"
Sharp's Furniture served Southwestern Pennsylvania and surrounding
states from this location for the next four decades, becoming known as
the "store of personal service". Following World War II,
Charles’s sons Charles Jr. and William joined the business.
In
1965, the Greater Washington Redevelopment Authority took the site and
Sharp's moved to its present location at 360 Washington Road (Route
19). A new modern one level facility was designed by Dickson &
Associates and completed in 1969. The new building accommodates a
modern showroom of over 27,000 square feet, repair shop, warehouse,
loading docks, and garage. The old boiler room and coal bins of the
former building are gone -- but customers and staff can now enjoy a
modern air conditioned showroom.
Upon the death of Charles L. Sharp, Sr. in 1973, Sharp's Furniture
Store continued to flourish under the guidance of Charles Jr. and
William. Quality furniture and personal service were still the primary
focus of this family business. Charles Jr. retired in 1982 and William
Sharp took responsibility for the day to day management and operation
of the store. David B Sharp, William’s son, was a
buyer and
decorator for the store in the 1980's. He passed away in
1993. In
1986, David (Dave) Patnesky, William’s son-in-law, joined the
store and currently serves as the General Manager. William's daughter,
Sue Sharp Patnesky, assumed a buyer and merchandising role in 1995.
With the passing of William in 2002, Sue and her sister Sibyl Sharp
Ream reorganized the store effective January 2003 with exciting plans
to continue the family business and reach out to the growing community
as the "store of personal service". Sadly, Sue became ill and
passed away in May 2003. Sibyl has taken over as President of
Sharp’s Furniture with a renewed passion to continue this
business and serve the ever expanding tri-state community with quality
furnishings.
Today
Sharp's Furniture is refocused and moving toward providing you with the
latest in style, beauty and functional furnishings. A few things,
however, remain unchanged from that early West Chestnut Street Store,
namely:
--Sharp's is well prepared to care for your needs;
--Our invitation to you is simply to come and visit and inspect;
--We remain focused on being "the store of personal service".
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