The following story has been submitted by the Logan County History Center.
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By: Mary E. Mortimer
DeLong’s Appliance & Record Store was in business for more than 40 years. Charles and Ruth DeLong opened a radio and home appliance store in Bellefontaine in the mid-1930s.
Charles DeLong Jr. was born in Bellefontaine in 1909. After graduating from Bellefontaine High School, he received a degree from Cook’s School of Engineering. DeLong then became one of the first full-time radio repairmen in Bellefontaine. He was also a pioneer in refrigeration maintenance and the installation and repair of public address systems.
In 1934, DeLong married Bellefontaine native Ruth Offenbacher. They opened an appliance and record store at 118 E. Court St., and Charles was elected a member of the Bellefontaine City Council. While conversing with Mayor John A. Sugrue in early 1945, he discovered the mayor’s son, Paul, was selling his Esplin store at 140 S. Main St.
In April 1945, Charles and Ruth DeLong purchased the Tremont Block building at 138-140 S. Main St. After World War II ended, and the manufacture of large appliances resumed, the DeLongs were able to obtain franchises for GE and Maytag appliances.
They also sold record players and a variety of LP albums and 45 single records. The DeLongs frequently had special musical events at their store. In August 1948, “America’s No. 1 singing group,” the Sons of the Pioneers, made a special appearance at their store after performing at Schine’s Holland Theatre. Their store was packed with fans who turned out to see the singers and get an autograph.
After the death of their faithful repairman, Kenneth Hockett, in 1969, they discontinued stocking large appliances and devoted their business to small appliances, records, and gifts.
Charles DeLong was continually active in municipal affairs. He was the first Chairman of the City Planning Commission in 1955 and a strong believer that a vibrant downtown was a major key to the community’s success. He advocated long and hard for the downtown beautification program and for ample parking.
For many years, Charles partnered with Charles Cook in an air conditioning business. Each devoted part-time to the business. After Cook passed away, the business was discontinued.
The DeLongs operated their record and appliance business in this location until their retirement in 1977. They sold their business to North Carolina natives, Billy and Elizabeth Peterson, who had recently moved from Deale, Maryland. The Petersons moved to Logan County after Billy accepted a job at the Transportation Research Center in East Liberty as a Project Engineering Chief for the National Highway Safety Administration.
The Petersons did some remodeling to the store and added a wider selection of records, tapes, players, radios, clocks, and small appliances. They also offered tableware, gifts, and decorative items. The Petersons ran their store until about 1982. Dee Dee Ricketts opened ME & Company Salon at this location after the Petersons closed their store.
Visit the Logan County History Center to learn more interesting aspects of Logan County History. The History Center is open for tours Wednesday – Sunday from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Admission is free.
