Before Althea and Billy Head made the decision to close Hengstler’s, a jewelry store, bridal registry and gift shop that’s been in the family 95 years, the couple consulted with some very “higher-ups.”

“We talked it over with God and Daddy,” Althea Head said. “I really think Daddy would be OK with what we’re doing.”

“Daddy” is Althea Head’s father, Albert W. Hengstler, who arrived in West Point and opened a watch repair shop. When a lady at his church told him women didn’t go into barber shops and he should consider opening his own store and “put something in it ladies would like to buy - like jewelry,” Hengstler took the advice. Hengstler’s opened officially in 1914.

Albert Hengstler met Carrie Hammock, a pianist at the local movie theater, and hired her as his first clerk. The couple was married in 1934 and Althea, their only child, was born two years later.

“It’s been part of my life for as long as I can remember,” Althea Head said. “Daddy made me a ‘playroom’ in one of the back rooms. He even let me ride my tricycle through the store. He took great pride in putting me in a chair so I could reach the counter and help him wait on customers. It was always understood that I would someday run it.”

Billy Head, Althea’s high school sweetheart, worked as an accountant at West Point Pepperell, but eventually joined his wife at the store in 1977.

“Billy and I have tried to continue running the store the way we thought Daddy would have wanted it,” Althea Head said. “(The store) was a gift from him and we just continued it.”

The couple, who live in the same Roper Avenue house Althea Head was born in, say the economy is one of the main reasons they’re choosing to close the store. That and planning a wedding these days is done mostly online and through larger stores. Some well-known bridal-related companies now only will sell to large stores, not small mom-and-pop shops like Hengstler’s.

Hengstler’s did survive many catastrophes - including a number of natural disasters - in its 95 years. A flood shortly after he opened forced Albert Hengstler to restock the store entirely. A 1919 tornado damaged much of downtown. And during the Great Depression, Carrie and Albert Hengstler were paid in eggs and produce from local gardens.

“There was food on the table and jewelry in the homes of their customers,” Althea Head said. “People learned to work together.”

Hengstler’s lost its downtown lease in 1971, at the same time Albert Hengstler found out he had cancer. Althea and Billy Head were in charge of the move across the street to a former bakery and didn’t tell Albert Hengstler until after the move was done.

“Since Daddy was at home sick, we chose not to tell him until everything was completed, then we took him through the new store,” Althea Head recalled. “He was thrilled.”

Albert Hengstler died later that year at the age of 80.

Selling the shop now to another owner would have been difficult at best, Billy Head says.

“We considered selling, but under the circumstances, we decided a ‘going out of business’ sale would be best,” he said.

The Head’s only daughter, Kelli, is in the civil service at Fort Benning.

Since its last move to 806 Third Ave., the store has tripled in size. Josephine Jet’Aime has worked at the store for 10 years and is one of about four employees. Billy Head recruited her to the store when she was working at Givorns.

“It’s been a pleasure,” working at Hengstler’s,” Jet’Aime said. “Everyone’s asked me what I’m going to do. I’ll have to find something.”

The weeks since the announcement have been a whirlwind for the Heads and their employees. For years, the store has been closed Wednesday afternoons. Now it’s open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day but Sunday. The store will close at 5 p.m. Dec. 24, its last day.

Althea Head said the store’s closing hadn’t really hit her until she sold the last two Lee Middleton collectible dolls in the same day. She says she’ll miss the regular customers and has enjoyed being part of the happy occasion of hundreds of brides over the years.

“We really do appreciate the loyalty of our customers,” Althea Head said.

The couple plans to spend their retirement enjoying their newfound freedom to travel where they want, when they want. They expect to still be involved in the community in some way.

“We’ll make our life worthwhile,” Althea Head said.

Jennifer Shrader may be reached at jshrader@ lagrangenews.com or at (706) 884-7311, Ext. 236.