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Article: 100th birthday party for Pasquale Verde at Elgin VFW
- Article from:
- Courier-News (Elgin, IL)
- Article date:
- September 16, 2002
CopyrightCopyright (c) 2002 Courier-News. (Hide copyright information)
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This year marks the 100th anniversary of Elgin's first car dealership. Fred L. Steere and John M. Murphy, who had a wagon, carriage, and harness shop, offered the Rambler for sale in 1902. When Murphy sold one, he often accompanied the buyer by train to Kenosha, Wis., where the car was made. They would then drive the little car back to Elgin. The return trip would take about four hours if the
roads were good.
Early-day car dealers in Elgin were often garage men and gas station operators who sold cars as a sideline. Called "agencies" because they were local agents of the manufacturer, some operated out of their homes, using their own car as a demonstrator and taking orders for later ...