October 16, 2024 Geri Duff
In the 1950s The Little Plain Hardware Co. was one of four hardware stores in Hingham. The other three were E.E. Bickford’s, Walsh & Packard’s, and Wompatuck Hardware. (Wompatuck had two locations, one in Hingham Square and one in South Hingham.) Little Plain started by Sime Barilaro and Alma Tinsley who rented the building at the corner of Short and Leavitt Streets. In 1950 the address for this building was 3 Short Street and today it is 11 Leavitt Street. Little Plain Hardware moved in 1965 to the “new” building at 284 Main between a liquor store (now Atlantic Bagel) and an insurance office (now Quality Nails). The Little Plain Hardware Co. closed in the 1970s. Over the years it has been occupied by Ethel Studley’s Little Plain Candy Shop, Dr. Eldridge, Dr. Demaggio (dentist) and Daniela Schiavo’s Flower Shop. Today, this end, is the office of Stewart Painting.