Barrett Hardware & Industrial Supply

In 1850, Joliet was a tiny, but growing Illinois town. Its location on the Des Plaines River/I&M Canal, proximity to Chicago and service by many railroads practically guaranteed that it would rapidly become a leading industrial center. A talented young entrepreneur named William F. Barrett opened a tiny tin shop and hardware store on what was then the busiest intersection in town, Bluff and Jefferson Streets. As the city grew, the business moved four blocks to a building across from the Will County Court House on Jefferson Street.