January 30, 2011

Although a bypass now diverts traffic away from the little town of Hardy (Sharp County), old U.S. Highway 63 still runs through the heart of the business district. Settled with the coming of the railroad in the early 1880s, the town, situated on the banks of the Spring River, has never numbered more than 721 citizens. Mainly a tourist attraction due to its proximity to the river, the town in recent years has become something of an antiques shopper’s paradise. Many of the buildings in this 1950s photo now house shops offering local crafts and antiques.