THE HEART OF BOLTON--- The heart of the town of Bolton, which was established in 1830, can be found at the corner of West Madison Street and Bolton-Brownsville Road marked and overseen by the Bolton water tower. Gaddis and McLaurin Hardware, also called “The Store,” can be found on the famous corner. Since 1871, Gaddis and McLaurin, a family-owned business, has been a mainstay for Bolton-Edwards-Raymond and western Hinds County. The Store sells everything from wind chimes to boots to clothing to plumbing to hardware to electrical supplies to paint to gardening supplies to feed for horse and cattle. Their motto: “Hardware, Feed, Seed, and Everything You Need.” The history of the store began 150 plus years ago across the street from the current location, when Bolton was just a station stop on the Vicksburg and Jackson Railroad. In January, 1948, the original store burned to the ground and the store reopened immediately following the fire in its current spot. U. S. Representative Bennie Thompson is a native of Bolton and served as its mayor before his career in Congress. Bolton has a population of 567 folks. Bolton is about 20 miles west of Jackson and 25 miles east of Vicksburg, in the valley of Bakers Creek, which is part of the Big Black River watershed. (Gazette photo by Lucius Lampton)