Smitty Gifts

 

 

Smith Brothers in Clinton, Iowa is still there.  Smith Brothers is an everything store.  A general store from bygone era, a hardware store, a department store, a gag store, a home goods store with cast iron pots and pans, enamel ware, wash tubs, wooden drying racks.

When we stopped recently the door was locked but it appeared to still be in business.  There are 4 entrances – one has appliances in front of it, one is boarded up, one was padlocked, and one had a recycling bin in front of it.

Looking through the big windows we could see the wonders inside.  Signs of all shapes and sizes, a Cowboy Bible (a flask) enamel ware, antiques, parts, cast iron everything- skillets, Dutch oven,  a kettle to put on the fire and invert the lid for a stove top, several varieties of pans to make corn bread. 

When we lived in Clinton my husband would poke around at Smith Brothers.  At Christmas, gifts started appearing from Smith Brothers – quirky gifts under the tree for everyone.  A thermometer, a bird feeder, a pruning shears, a trowel, a wrench, a tape measure.  It evolved into Smitty gifts and continues through 3 moves and 24 years.  Smitty gifts are still under our Christmas tree!