Soul of 78: Tradition Preserved
The Enduring Charm of Posey’s Store
Words by Jenny Lynn Davis | Images by Ryan McGill
In downtown Jasper stands a place where past and present merge into a beautiful symphony. Andrew Posey & Son Hardware, affectionately known as Posey's, is as a beacon of the rural South's enduring charm. Founded in 1919 by G.R. Posey, this establishment has journeyed through time, evolving from a humble grocery store to a beloved general store under the watchful eyes of generations.
Today, Rance Jordan, a retired fireman and paramedic, holds the torch passed through the Posey lineage.
"Growing up, visiting my family in Vernon, Alabama, we'd always pass by Posey's on the way. It fascinated me," Rance recalls. His acquisition of the store in 2021 was more than a business venture; it was a heart-led commitment to preserving a piece of Jasper's heritage.
"A few years ago, I was passing through and saw the 'for sale' sign in the window and decided to stop and talk with Randy and Janice Posey. They gave me a price but told me someone else had already made an offer," Rance says. "After a few months, that offer fell through, and I had the opportunity to buy it. I told them I wanted to buy as is, continue the traditionality of it all, but expand on it. They were pleased that I wanted to keep the name Posey's."
The essence of Posey's lies not only in its merchandise, which ranges from garden seeds and beekeeping supplies to Radio Flyer wagons and Rada knives, but also in the shopping experience. Toni Jordan, Rance's niece and the store's manager, recounts how Posey's is a landmark of nostalgia, a place where community ties are strengthened, and traditions are upheld.
"It doesn't matter who they are race, nationality, circumstances the people around here love this store and its nostalgia so much, and they've continued to love it and trust us as we've taken over. That's special," she says. "And we can trust them, too. I can trust someone to take an item home, test it, and then come back and pay me. That started with the Posey family, and we continue it today. Try to find that anywhere else, I bet you'll have a hard time!"
As Rance and Toni muse about the store's future, their hope is clear: "That the Jordan family can enrich the community as much as the Poseys have.”
Posey's, with its rich history and community-centric ethos, is a vibrant reminder of the importance of preserving our past while embracing the future. It is a symbol of Jasper's heart, a legacy of community, tradition, and the timeless value of serving the needs of one's neighbors. 78