Sunday Favorites: Sowing the Seeds of Opportunity, Part Two

When we left off last week,  By 1954, English Willard Smith expanded his staff to include a store manager. Vaylord Tyler assumed the role, so English had more flexibility to explore different companies and brands to keep costs down for quality items. This week, we'll take a look at how that decision affected the store. 

READ PART ONE HERE

In the year 1954, the Korean War had reached its conclusion. The U.S. military involvement in the Korean War was a component of its broader Cold War strategy, aimed at curbing the expansion of communism and safeguarding its Asian allies. During its peak, the United States dispatched more than 300,000 troops to the region, and among them was Vaylord Tyler.

Born in 1931, Vaylor grew up in the town of New Hampton, Iowa. The quaint village was characterized by its warm and welcoming atmosphere, but the winter months were anything but, bringing with them a biting cold that seemed to linger on indefinitely.

Vaylor’s sister struggled with chronic pneumonia, prompting their family doctor to suggest a move to Florida, a common medical recommendation at the time. The family moved to Manatee County and Vaylord graduated from Manatee High School before returning to Iowa for college. His intention was to stay there for the long term. However, his plans took a different turn when he entered the military.

Following his discharge from the war, Vaylord and his wife Ada decided to bid farewell to the cold and constant winters for good and move back to Florida, where they could raise their newborn daughter, Debbie, in warmth and sunshine, according to Vaylord Tyler’s 1996 interview with the Manatee County Historical Society entitled “Smith’s Department Store.”

They settled in Palmetto, which had the same small-town feel they were used to.

“We liked the friendliness of the people. We enjoyed the church life that went on in town. It was a nice place, we thought, to raise a family,” he said.

One of the things that drew Valyord to Palmetto was that like New Hampton, it was an agricultural area. The only problem was he had received his degree in poultry husbandry, and while tomatoes and citrus plants were plentiful, there “wasn’t a chick around for 500 miles.”

That’s when he decided to sow the seeds of a new opportunity with a career in retail. He applied as a manager at Smith’s Department Store and received an offer. Despite the long hours, he often worked from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m., Vaylor enjoyed the simple work of managing the grocery and retailer.

Working in retail wasn’t always easy, Vaylord once suspected an old woman of stealing but eventually found her peculiar behavior was more likely the result of a drinking problem. After a heated confrontation, he dumped the contents of her purse only to find it filled with tissues and a flask. While he tried to save face by banishing her from the store, deep down he really hoped he wasn’t going to get sued.

Smith’s even earned recognition overseas, becoming a household name in a small town in Germany. For years residents from this town would have three must-visit road stops on their Florida vacation, Kenedy Space Center, Disneyworld, and Smith’s Department Store. Despite the infrequent visits, they often spent hundreds, if not thousands of dollars stocking up on clothing items, according to Vaylord.

In 1967, the landscape of the town began to change with the arrival of chain grocers such as Star Market and Winn Dixie. These grocery giants, although convenient, didn't offer the personalized touch of hand-picking cuts of meat or incorporating cherished family recipes into the shopping experience. Nevertheless, as they expanded their inventory and presence, it became evident the charm and character of Smith's small, local market wasn’t enough. The owner of the store, English Willard Smith, decided to close the grocer and focus on retail clothing.

Smiths changed a lot over the years. The sewing supplies disappeared, the linens were replaced with workwear, and infant and baby clothes were discontinued. The Smiths stuck to what they knew, durable, high-quality clothing for a bargain price.

The one constant was the sense of community and dedication for the staff, all of whom became like family. The team liked to celebrate the birthday of Smith’s longest worker Sarah Campbell. Every year on her birthday, they’d close the store and celebrate in some spectacular way – a party at the Woman’s Club (age 88), a trip to Disney World (age 89), a charted boat ride at sunset (age 90).

When Sarah got too elderly to drive to work, Vaylord picked her up from home and took her to work. When asked why she didn’t just retire, she’d always say “I couldn’t live without a job to get up and go to.” Sarah worked at the store part-time until her death.

Vaylord Tyler took the reins of the business from the Smith family, carrying forward their founding legacy by prioritizing affordable clothing options for hardworking families. The torch was later passed to his daughter, Deborah, who continued to run the business. However, after an impressive seven-decade-long legacy, Smith's finally closed its doors for good in the year 1998, marking the end of an era in the community.

Smith's Department Store may never have an etched historical marker citing its significance, but it will forever reside in the cherished memories of the individuals who recognized it for what it authentically represented—an establishment created specifically for working families, a manifestation of the American dream, and a nurturing and caring employer. Its impact on the lives and hearts of the community is a testament to the enduring power of local businesses in shaping small-town America.