FIRM IN SAME BUILDING, DIFFERENT TOWN

SCOTT CITY -- Harmon Furniture & Appliance Co. is observing its 45th anniversary this year.

"We've been in the same building since 1946 when we opened," said Vyron Harmon, one of the founders of the company and now retired. "There's a lot more space and the city has a new name, but we're still the Harmon Furniture Co."

Harmon and his brother-in-law, Claude Boner, founded the business when they were discharged from service.

"We looked around at several sites, including Farmington and Illmo," said Harmon. "We found space in the old B&K Building at 116 East Hickory in Illmo. The space was ideal, and this was a thriving area. Several towns were near, including Fornfelt, Scott City, Chaffee, Benton, and Cape Girardeau."

Business was good.

In 1950, the firm assumed all the space in the building, which was a half-block long, and 150 feet wide. When Boner died, Harmon purchased his sister's part of the business.

Along the way, "we bought out the Norge and Frigidaire people," said Harmon. "We also purchased the old Riverside Regional Building, and used it as an annex."

Also along the way, the communities of Illmo and Fornfelt have been consolidated into Scott City.

The furniture company now has about 75,000 square feet.

"The biggest thing that has really changed in the business are the prices," said Harmon. "Different styles have come and gone. Colors have change, from dark to light, to medium, and then back to dark."

Harmon recalls the first automatic washer, and the first fully frost-free refrigerator.

"The washer was a Bendix," he said. "The refrigerator was a Frigidaire. A couple of other brands claimed to be frost free, but the Frigidaire was the first one that was completely frost-free."

In the mid-1970s, Harmon and his wife, Lillian, started discussing retirement.

"When Dad started talking about retirement, we discussed keeping the store open," said Martha Joiner, the former Martha Harmon. Following discussions, Mrs. Joiner, who was working in a medical lab, and Bill Joiner, a school teacher, decided to keep it open.

"This is a good old general store for furniture and appliances," said Mrs. Joiner. "We didn't want to see it close. We're the only furniture store here. A lot of furniture stores have moved in and out of here."

The Joiners are starting their 15th year as operators of the store.

"We have operated the store since 1976," said Mrs. Joiners. "We run it much the same way my parents did. We like to provide a down-home feeling here, and treat customers like we would want to be treated."

The store carries several name brand lines Basset, Lane, Action Recliner, Justice, Frigidaire, Speed Queen, RCA, Zenith, and others.

The Harmons, meanwhile, are on the road much of the time now.

"We have a motor home," said Harmon. "We travel about nine months a year."

The Harmons also pursue a hobby in their travels.

"We call governors in the states we visit," said Harmon. "We try to arrange a brief interview with our VCR camcorder, and get their autographs. We have autographs VCR tapes on 40 governors."

The growing collection includes Gov. George Wallace of Alabama and Gov. Mario Cuomo of New York, and "Big Jim" James Thompson of Illinois.