Dawsonville Hardware celebrates 70th anniversary
By Melissa Mayton,
Dawson County Chamber
Membership Director
A local business in down-
town Dawsonville celebrat-
ed a major milestone in
August.
Dawsonville Hardware cel-
ebrated its 70th anniversary
on August 1. It is believed
to be the oldest, family-run
business in Dawson County.
The business was started by
owner Dwight Gilleland’s
parents, Carlton and Cleva
Gilleland in 1947. “I was
two years old when mother
and dad started this busi-
ness,” Gilleland said. “So I
look at myself as being the
main duster because back
then we wore cloth diapers.
I did a lot of scooting across
these floors.”
Dawsonville Hardware owner Dwight Gilleland and Dawson County Chamber of Commerce President
Christie Haynes along with the hardware store staff celebrate the store’s 70th anniversary. The store opened in
downtown Dawsonville August 1, 1947.
Gilleland took over the
business from his parents in 1977. It’s also the same year Daw-
sonville Hardware was incorporated and became a member
of the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce. Gilleland was
a pioneer in launching the organization in Dawson County
and served as the Chamber’s first President and is one of the
Chamber’s longest, continuous members.
Gilleland’s ability to adapt and innovate is part of what has
kept his business successful over the past seven decades. “The
biggest change in the industry I guess is computerization,”
Gilleland said. “Everything was done by hand before. In the
early 1990’s computerization came in and I took over the
Point-of-Sale system. I could tell it was going to be a big deal.”
Lawnmower repair has also become much more technical,
much like auto repair. Gilleland said his staff does training
every year to stay ahead of the curve. “Trying to stay ahead
of the game is a short way of putting that,” Gilleland said. “I
think we have definitely done that. God has blessed us with
the ability to think ahead. And we owe it all to God to be
able to live long enough to do things and the financial abil-
ity to create—and that’s what you want to have in business,
8 | Dawson County Chamber of Commerce
you want to be a creator. And I think that’s been our biggest
accomplishment—creation.”
Dawson County Chamber of Commerce President Christie
Haynes agrees. “The ingenuity and innovation Dwight has
put into Dawsonville Hardware is a shining example of how
to keep a business relevant and prosperous in our ever-chang-
ing world. We are so fortunate the Gillelands decided to start
their business and make a living in Dawsonville 70 years ago,”
Haynes, said. “We are excited and eager to celebrate this mile-
stone with Dawsonville Hardware. We look forward to many
more years of having a local place to pick up the perfect tool
for any project.”
Dawsonville Hardware carries modern and hard to find tools
for most home and lawn projects. They have factory-trained
technicians in the small engine department for lawn mower
and outdoor power equipment. To celebrate the store’s 70th
anniversary they will have giveaways, sales and a drawing for
a prize to be given away at the end of the year.
Looking back, Gilleland thinks his family would be proud
of what has become of Dawsonville Hardware. “I think they
would be pretty happy with the way it looks,” he said. “It’s got
a touch of old-timey, but it is upgraded and modernized.”