Silver Spring’s “shopping center” in 1913 provided the neighboring community with all of its needs. The general store of Bernard R. Gannon, Sr. is on the left and next door is Hunter Bros. coal and hardware business. Cyrus and Leander McCormick founded McCormick Harvesting Machine Co. in 1847, which became part of International
Harvester Co. in 1902. Collection of Silver Spring Historical Society

This cornerstone was originally set into the brick facade of Hunter’s 1925 building. When the building underwent remodeling in 1949, the stone was reinstalled in the facade of the new store front where it remains today. Hunter likely had this cornerstone fabricated to reflect the number of years that he had been in the hardware business — 1896 is when he started working, as a 16-year-old, at Orndorff & Truxton Co. at 203 7th Street, NW, Washington, D.C. Photo by Jerry A. McCoy

John H. Hunter posed with employees, including daughter Gertrude, when the store was sold to Lawrence B. Maloney, Sr. in 1945. 

(L-R) Bowe Atwood,* Leonard Maloney, Thomas Hunter, unknown, Gertrude Hunter McRorie,* unknown, John H. Hunter, unknown, John D. McRorie,* Lawrence B. Maloney, Jr., Lawrence B. Maloney, Sr.  (* indicates employee) Photo Courtesy Kevin M. Maloney

John H. Hunter posed with employees, including daughter Gertrude, when the store at 8126 Georgia Avenue was sold to Lawrence B. Maloney, Sr. in 1945. (L-R) unknown, unknown, Gertrude Hunter McRorie,* John H. Hunter, Lawrence B. Maloney, Jr., unknown, Lawrence B. Maloney, Sr., Leonard Maloney, Bowe Atwood,* John D. McRorie,* Thomas Hunter (* indicates employee. Unknowns are probably employees). Photo Courtesy Kevin M. Maloney

Maloney’s, Inc. featured the Hunter Bros. name (sign above door) when they took over the business in 1945. The landmark 175-year-old pin oak that germinated before the start of the American Revolutionary War was cut down in June 1948 to make way for the expanded store front. Photo courtesy Kevin M. Maloney

Lawrence B. Maloney, Sr. with WW II veterans taking on-the-job training in refrigeration, truck/tractor mechanics, parts, and accounting under the GI Bill. (L-R) B. Hunter, E. Meade, R. Glidden, C. Jones, Mr. Maloney, C. Phelps, R. Staiger, L. Ruppert, R. Massick, J. Walden. Photo by O. B. Troup, January 23, 1948, Maryland News

This c. 1952 photograph shows the exterior remodeling, designed in 1949 by Raymond Loewy Associates, providing the uniform look of an International Harvester Co. store and service center. Photo courtesy Kevin M. Maloney

The original 1925 facade of 8126 Georgia Avenue containing two display windows and arched center door frame with lunette window above (removed) is clearly visible behind a glass-enclosed addition in this c. 1950s photograph. This facade continues to serve as an interior wall of the extant structure. Photo courtesy Kevin M. Maloney

Tie rods were used to connect the brick side walls of the 1925 building to keep them from bowing outward. Three star-shaped tie-rod anchors are still visible on each side, between the first and second floors.