The Association Story

1904-1910 Hardware Dealers Mutual Fire Insurance Company office on the second floor of this building in Berlin, WI.

• 1896—The Wisconsin Retail Hardware Association (WRHA) was organized in Berlin, WI, by 35 hardware men to promote the interest of, and to secure the friendly cooperation among, independent retail hardware dealers. The first WRHA Annual Convention was held in Milwaukee, WI.

• 1902—With a full-time staff of one, the WRHA joined the North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA), formerly the National Retail Hardware Association.

• 1904 —Wisconsin Hardware dealers formed the Hardware Mutual Fire Insurance Company.

• 1912—WRHA offices moved to Stevens Point, WI, under the direction of Mr. Peter (PJ) Jacobs, a Stevens Point hardware store owner. WRHA incorporated on 10/5/1912.

• 1914—The WRHA started the Wisconsin Hardware Limited Mutual Liability Insurance Company. Carl N. Jacobs (PJ's son) became the first employee.

Formal Opening of New Building Takes Place August 2, 1922 in Stevens Point, WI. This historic building still stands in downtown Stevens Point, WI.

• 1922—The Fire and Casualty Company and the WRHA moved into a new three-story home office.

• 1929—Hardware Mutual—Sentry Life Insurance was formed.

• 1962—The WRHA’s Annual Convention moved from Milwaukee to Stevens Point, WI.

• 1963—The WRHA continues with a full-time staff of eight. The group of insurance companies composed of Hardware Mutual Casualty Co., Hardware Dealers Mutual Fire Insurance Co., and Sentry Life Insurance Co. formally became Sentry Insurance.

• 1971—The WRHA office moved from Sentry Insurance’s building at 1421 Strongs Avenue to its Building 3 at 2801 Dixon Street.

• 1977—The WRHA office moved back to the Sentry Insurance building at 1421 Strongs Avenue when Sentry’s new "World Headquarters" facility was completed on North Point Drive.

• 1991—The WRHA is the largest single-state hardware association in the United States with a staff of 35 offering over 60 services to Wisconsin hardware retailers.

• 1992—The Wisconsin Retail Hardware Association and the Illinois Retail Hardware Association merged to form the Midwest Hardware Association, Inc. (MHA). Boasting a membership of nearly 1,000 members, the MHA continued to grow with legislative representation in Madison, WI, as well as Springfield, IL, and Washington, D.C.

• 1999—In October, the MHA office moved back to Sentry’s Building 3 on Dixon Street.

• 2001—The MHA took over TruServ Corporation’s member accounting service which included accounting, sales tax, income taxes, etc. for stores across the United States. The MHA office was remodeled to accommodate the addition of new accountants and accounting assistants to handle the additional work. At nearly 40 employees, the MHA was the largest regional Hardware Association in the United States.

• 2003—The MHA completely redesigned its website preparing to offer up-to-date information to its more than 950 members and clients. The new website features important news and information, posting requirements, a guide to the retention of records, a searchable Association HELPS database, registration for MHA's upcoming events, information on child labor laws, along with a password protected Members Only section which allows each member/client access to information pertinent to their store.

• 2004—The Midwest Hardware Association held its First-Ever Product Knowledge Expo in conjunction with its 108th Annual Hardware Dealers Convention. The event was held in Lake Geneva, WI, at the Grand Geneva Resort & Spa and featured vendor specials, new product demonstrations, and an auction benefiting Habitat for Humanity. Almost 300 MHA members, vendors, and staff were in attendance for this first time event.

• 2007—The Midwest Hardware Association returns to the Kalahari Resort and Water Park for the 111th Annual Convention and Product Knowledge Expo. The MHA also partners with Single Source Services to provide members with safe and secure preemployment background screening and credit check services.

• 2009—Members of the Midwest Hardware Association and the Minnesota-Dakotas Retail Hardware Association vote their approval on a Plan of Merger between the two organizations. Combined, the new Midwest Hardware Association boasts the largest number of hardware dealers as members of any regional association in the country. MHA remains headquartered in Stevens Point, Wisconsin and also establishes a regional office in Hopkins, Minnesota.

  In October, MHA headquarters moves to 2301 Country Club Drive, Ste A, Stevens Point, WI.