|
|---|
Mr. Frank Farmer began his career in the automobile business as a salesman for Sam Abell Chevrolet in 1926 and worked in this capacity until 1935 when a cyclone destroyed the office and repair shop and killed Sam Abell.
Following Abell's death, Mr. Farmer, in association with several other Metropolis businessmen: Ike B. Foreman, James C. Foreman, John J. Goodall, Lindell W. Sturgis, and Howard McCluskey bought the dealership. In 1937, Mr. Farmer added Oldsmobile. Then in 1938, Cadillac became the third line of cars sold by the firm. Mr. Farmer bought out his partners in 1941. Then in 1949, he sold an interest to Lyndell Pullen who was associated with the company until his death in 1964
.
The automobile agency experienced extensive growth since 1935, expanding to other buildings and lots in the vicinity of 715 Market Street. The year 1955 was the biggest in the company's history when over 1000 new cars were sold. Mr. Farmer's late brother,Ike, was employed in the business. Mr. Farmer's brother, Hadley, continues to be active in the dealership. Elizabeth Rush, his sister-in-law worked as bookkeeper for over 40 years until her death in 1985.
After the death of Mr. Farmer in 1976, his daughter, Cynthia, and son-in-law, John Stanton, bought the dealership from the Frank Farmer estate and continue under the same family association, which has been active for over 60 years. In 2007, Al Mansfield became a partner. Over the years, the dealership has received many awards for sales and service excellence.
METROPOLIS, Ill. John Stanton's spanking new Frank Farmer Chevrolet Oldsmobile dealership will be on U.S. 45 South, on what people around here call the mule barn property, where for many years livestock were bought and sold."I'm happy that once again there'll be some good, old-fashioned horse trading going on," he said.
Dirt work started last month, and, Stanton expects to be in the building by the end of the year. It will have four times the space of the longtime Farmer dealership downtown at 715 Market St.
"It's what we call a GM Image 2000 dealership, a new design that GM wants for its dealers in the 21st century," he said. "They want their dealers to move to the net high-traffic areas with more visibility, convenience, and parking. Most dealerships in downtown areas just have outgrown their locations and don't have any room to expand."
Some call the change. `the McDonaldization" of General Motors,- said Stanton, who has been a dealer since 1980. Coincidentally, the new building will be next door to a new McDonald's Restaurant.
"When a customer comes into town, they want the GM dealership to be easily identifiable," he said. "That doesn't mean they'll all look the same but they want the characteristics to be common." A blue neon light along the front of the building will be the focal point. Stanton said the added space and inventory should mean more jobs, although he was hesitant to predict how many. He also declined to discuss the cost.
Moving will be bittersweet for Stanton because the business has always been in the heart of the downtown business district.
The old Chevrolet garage dates to 1918 at 3rd and Ferry streets. It moved to 715 Market in 1927.
As a reminder of the dealership's heritage, Stanton keeps a shiny 1928 Chevy two-door coach in the showroom. Restored by Antique Automobile Club of America standards to its original condition, it won the Senior Grand National Award in 1995.
Before buying the dealership, salesman Frank Farmer sold the car to John Richardson of Metropolis.Farmer purchased the car from Richardson.son's estate in 1956 and sold it to James Walters Jr. in 1974.
|
|---|
Like Us? Please Tell Everybody! |
