County's Oldest Retail Store Rooted in Family and Community

The Roaring Spring True Value Hardware, one of Blair County's longest-standing businesses, has deep roots that stretch back to the 19th century.

Owned by Doug and Jo Ellen Mingle, the store was known as the Roaring Spring Department store until about 2009, but when it was opened in 1863 it was simply known as the "Company Store".

It was established by Roaring Spring's founder D.M. Bare, and has been meeting community needs for over a century and a half.

Since then each generation of the Mingle family has added to its legacy.

Doug remembers a basement pillar at the old location, where "October...