Features Editor

Aug. 12, 2000 11 PM

Jackson Hardware is 100 years old and everyone is invited to Brundidge Friday and Saturday to celebrate this milestone occasion with the Jackson family.

However, the celebration will also be one for the town and the thousands of customer/friends who have been a part of the hardware’s success for 100 years and counting.

The festivities will kick off at 5:30 p.m. Friday with the presentation of a proclamation by the mayor and city council and acknowledgements by other business and civic groups.

Following the presentation ceremony, the popular county and western band, Patsalagi, will perform along with Brundidge’s own SouthSide Shufflers line dance group.

Popcorn and soft drinks will be served while customers enjoy viewing hardware memorabilia and visiting with the Jackson family, past and present employees and others who were, and are, staunch Jackson Hardware supporters.

On Saturday, the celebration will continue at 7:30 a.m. with sausage on the grill followed at 9 a.m. by the great gospel sound of The Christianaires. Hot dogs and soft drinks will be free for the asking for those who come to "visit" around lunch time and the celebration will wind down at 2 p.m.

Those who visit the hardware during the week may register for prizes that will be drawn for each day with the winners being announced around 1:30 p.m Saturday.

Everyone is also invited to take a chance on footballs autographed by Gene Stallings, Mike Dubose and Pat Dye. Chances are $1 each with all proceeds going to Pike County Relay for Life. Jackson Hardware will match the amount of tickets sales, doubling the contribution to this worthy cause.

Judy Jackson Mobley, who is a third generation owner of the hardware, along with her husband, Ronny, said everyone in the Jackson family is looking forward to this special occasion.

"Brundidge has been supportive of our business and the community has been a part of our family for 100 years," Mobley said. "A family owned business that survives a century owes its success to the town and community it serves. We want to take this opportunity to celebrate this milestone and to say ‘thank you’ to the thousands who have made it possible. We are looking forward to the celebration. We are excited about it and we invite everyone to share this special time with us."

John Hatcher Jackson Sr. opened the hardware in 1900 and it has been mainstay of Main Street since that time. The ownership of the store has spanned three generations, the late Bill and Maureen Jackson owned and operated the hardware until their daughter Judy and her husband assumed ownership.