Car Dealerships in Niles

PO1.244	Early Car Dealerships in Niles At the turn of the twentieth century the dependence on the horse and buggy was about to change. Niles already had interurban street cars that ran between Niles and Mineral Ridge, Warren and McKinley Heights. The appearance of the motor-car was about to change the living style of families — travel to work, church, downtown even vacations. Prominent in the foreground of Carmella's Confectionery, located at 7 South Main Street, is one of the first Fords purchased in Niles, ca 1906.

A listing of some of the car dealerships in Niles. The Great Depression caused many car businesses to close and sell-off their inventory at a huge loss. Cook and Baker 265 North Main — Oldsmobile Humphries-Barker 1121 North Main Plymouth — DeSoto Hake Motor Co. 116 West Federal Street — Buick Pritchard Motors 319 Robbins Avenue — Dodge-Plymouth Shiveley Sales and Service 327 Robbins Avenue — Ford Brooks Motor Sales 1121 North Main — Dodge-Plymouth C.H. Stiver 236 North Main — Chevrolet Dean & Best 100 West Federal Street — Oldsmobile Park Auto 148 North Main — Pontiac P&G Auto Sales — Willys Johnny Pressel Motor Sales — Chrysler-Plymouth E.C. Dugan — DeSoto-Plymouth		The Peerless brand was advertised and sold by Mullett Motor Sales located at 236 North Main Street. Peerless went out of business during the Great Depression. The Nash was sold by J.E. Heatman, Inc. located at 148 State Street across from Central Park (Dairy Queen area). Nash went out of business in the 1950s. Ray DeLaney, Inc. took over the Ford Dealership from R.A. Axelson at 329 Robbins Avenue. R.A. Axelson opened a used car dealership on North Main Street that went out of business in 1931 as a result of the Great Depression.

	Sample newpaper car advertisements.

The DeJute Building at 236 North Main Street was built in 1928. C.H. Stiver sold Chevrolets at this location, then moved across the street. A Desoto-Plymouth dealership was then located here.	New location for C.H. Stiver dealership.	The Pritchard Building was located at 319 Robbins Avenue and Pritchard Motors sold Dodge-Plymouth cars at this location.

The Sigler Building, built in 1919, is located at the intersection of Robbins and Mahoning Avenues.	One of the many businesses that occupied the Sigler Building was Johnny Pressell Motor Sales during the 40’s and 50’s. Johnny sold Chrysler and Plymouth automobiles in the front with a service department in the back.PO11.382	A 1954 advertisement for the Chrysler Imperial.

The Sigler Building was razed in 2019.	Looking down Robbins from Pressell’s was Herb Stein Lincoln-Mercury Sales. Dealers kept their new cars hidden until the presentation of the new model year in September. I remember peeking into Stein’s garage on Hartzell to see the new Lincoln or Mercury cars. These were the years when each automobile had its own design with fins, chrome, dual headlights and more to make it standout and be more desireable to the car buyers.

The Pritchard Building was razed in 2019.	Advertisement for Fleck Pontiac.	The Pritchard Building is located at 319 Robbins Avenue and Pritchard Motors sold Dodge-Plymouth cars at this location. In the '50s and 'early '60s, Fleck Pontiac would occupy this building with a dealership. Ray DeLaney, Inc. took over the Ford Dealership from R.A. Axelson at 329 Robbins Avenue. Later, Shivley Sales and Service would sell Fords at 327 Robbins Avenue. In the '50s Bonaquist Motors would sell Dodge and Plymouth automobiles at this location.

1941 Buick advertisement		1941 Ford ad

C.H. Stiver Advertisement	1925 Studebaker advertisement	1954 Car Dealerships