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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. |
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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. |
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Sample newpaper car advertisements. |
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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.
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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.
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The Sigler Building, built in 1919, is located
at the intersection of Robbins and Mahoning Avenues.
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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. |
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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. |
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The Pritchard Building was razed
in 2019.
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Advertisement for Fleck Pontiac.
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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.
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1941 Buick advertisement |
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1941 Ford ad |
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C.H. Stiver Advertisement
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1925 Studebaker advertisement
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1954 Car Dealerships
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Owner's manual for
Chevrolet passenger cars.
Directions and explanations for 1941 passenger
cars:
Oil Pressure Gauge
Speedometer
Clock
Windshield Wiper Control
Cigarette Lighter
Cowl Ventilator
Horn Button
Sun Visor
Carburetor
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