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Closing of Barnett's Do-It-Center marks end of 136-year tradition
McCOOK, Neb. — Kristi Korf Clapp remembers that her father, as a businessman, “always projected ahead,” thinking of McCook and its future.
Kristi hopes that someone who also possesses a “forward-thinking attitude” will purchase the building and land that make up “Barnett’s Do-It Center,” with an eye on what can benefit the community and continue the Barnett commitment to honesty and integrity.
Kristi and Jim Clapp are retiring and selling Barnett’s, a business every bit as old as the community it has helped build starting in 1882. With tears close to spilling over, Kristi tells the history of the lumber yard that started 136 years ago in downtown McCook:
“It started with Mr. A. ‘Albert’ Barnett,” Kristi says.
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According to McCook history, Albert Barnett was known as a “The Builder” from Day One in a new prairie village of McCook. Barnett was a country school teacher and dock worker in Illinois when an acquaintance, B.M. Frees, a McCook pioneer, sent him to McCook in 1882 to unload the community’s first railcar of lumber and build and open a branch of the Chicago Lumber Yard near the railway dock. With Barnett’s drive and business sense, that establishment soon became “Barnett Lumber Co.”
A “builder” and supporter of young McCook, Barnett built and/or contributed to the construction of the Fox Theater, the Nebraska Light and Power Co. office, the Addams Hotel, the Hormel Chevrolet building. He built the Methodist Church in memory of his mother. He was instrumental in building the Masonic Temple, the original YMCA, the Keystone Hotel and McCook’s memorial auditorium.
After A. Barnett’s death in 1938, his son, Frank, took over ownership and management of the lumber yard. After World War II, Frank Barnett hired a young man, an Air Force veteran named Wayne Korf.
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With Frank Barnett living in Washington, D.C., Wayne gradually assumed more of the responsibilities of Barnett’s manager Cy Young. In 1968, Frank and Catherine Barnett sold the lumber yard to Wayne, and he and his young family — wife, Darlene, and children, Sherwood and Kristi — assumed the legacy of A. Barnett and Frank Barnett and continued the Barnetts’ commitment to the business and to McCook and its future.
Wayne ran Barnett Lumber Co. out of 107 Norris, and many of the spec houses on what was known as “The Reservation,” in northeast McCook, were built with construction supplies from Barnett Construction Co.
The next expansion was the Barnett’s Paneling Center in Holdrege, where Sherwood and his young family moved.
In 1970, Barnett’s was the first store in Nebraska to join “Hardware Wholesale Inc.,” a member-owned hardware, lumber and building materials cooperative based in Fort Wayne, Ind, The cooperative would help Barnett’s provide its customers with great products at great prices. In October 1979, Wayne was the first Nebraska businessman named to serve on the HWI board of directors. (HWI became the “Do It Best” brand that Barnett’s is known for today.)
“Norris Avenue was always vibrant and busy,” Kristi remembers, from DeGroff’s Department Store and Larry Samway’s furniture store up the street to The Vogue men’s store and Stan Garlick’s newsstand across the street.
Kristi says her dad, at 55 years old, suffered a heart attack, and decisions were made that Sherwood and his family would move back to McCook, in 1975. “Dad passed away in November 1979,” Kristi says, and Jim and Sherwood assumed management of Barnett’s. Darlene remained involved along with Kristi. “Mom loved to come out and visit the lumber yard, and we loved her input,” Kristi said.
With forward-thinking like Wayne’s, Sherwood and Jim expanded from 7,500 square feet on Norris Avenue to the 17,500 square feet of the former Rancher’s hardware location on North Highway 83 in 1985. “We offered the same products, just more to choose from,” Kristi said, and she added “All That Pizzazz,” a wedding rental business. They continued the family’s successful business plan of offering what would benefit the community.
“We wouldn’t be here if we didn’t think of the community first,” Kristi said. “Our customers entrusted us with their projects and their friendship.”
Sherwood died in 1990, just 42 years old, of a heart attack like his father. Jim and Kristi carried on. Their children, Michelle and Marcus, worked in the store during high school and summer time. “Working here taught them the value of hard work, respect for an employer … a good work ethic,” Kristi said.
Both have successful careers and young families of their own, Kristi said. “We respect that. We wouldn’t force them to come back” to McCook to continue the store.
Michelle and her husband, Chris Leitner, live in Omaha and have Ainsley, 17, and Graci, 13. Marcus and his wife, Leesa, live in Norfolk and have Wyatt, 8, Myles, 6, and Lucy, 4.
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After World War II, there were three or four lumber yards in McCook. Jim and Kristi agree — competition is a good thing. “It keeps you honest and competitive,” Kristi said.
“Change and competition are good,” Kristi said, “and it’s so very important to support every business in your community before you jump in your car to shop out-of-town or online.”
She continued, “It’s vital for our community, to support it.”
Kristi and Jim agree that throughout the years, they have had many valued customers, developed some great friendships and have had wonderful, dedicated employees.
“The longevity of our employees was so vital to Barnett’s,” Kristi said, from Harvey Ackerman to Kenny Carter, George Wagner, Lois Jane Beneda, Eddie Flaige and Gary Scarborough.
Several customers don’t believe that Kristi and Jim will really retire. “You’re just joking, right?” they’ve asked. “That’s heartwarming … that they don’t want us to leave,” Kristi says, reaching for a tissue to wipe her eyes.
Kristi and Jim have plans for their retirement.
In Jim’s 45 years of dedication to Barnett’s and in his and Kristi’s 46 years of marriage, they have never taken more than one week off a year. “We’ll be able to visit the kids — together. Before, one or the other of us has had to hold down the fort here,” Kristi said.
Closing the store has been difficult at times, Kristi admits. “So many people have shared stories about the business, and they remember Dad and Sherwood. It’s bittersweet … ,” she says.
Kristi and Jim hope the community will support whoever buys the building and land. “Everyone has great ideas for it,” she said, smiling.
“It’s a prime location,” Kristi continued. “We pray that it will continue to benefit the community.”