OldChesterPa: Businesses: Automotive

Picture Be sure to click on the thumbnails below to see the full size picture.	Business Name	Location	Owner/Operator	Dates of Operation	Comments:
	? (Service Station)	4th & Welsh St.	Milt Burman & Dave Bell		Station sold October 1949
	Allen Tire Company	W. 9th St. (at Sproul)		? - 1939 - ?
	Atlantic Richfield Station	22nd & Edgmont Ave.	Frank Lancaster		"Owned by Frank Lancaster who lived in either Buckman Village or Highland Park. This was prior to I-95 coming through when the Conchester Highway ended at Kerlin Street." Thanks to William J. Stoop, stoopey@delanet.com
Photo courtesy of David Andrews, dandrewsdh@aol.com	Berman Brothers Auto Service	8th & Welsh Streets		? - before November 27, 1934	Also known as Lord's Garage, this business was demolished on November 27, 1934 to make way for construction of the Boyd Theatre.
	Albany Bohrer Dodge	3606 W 4th St. (Across from Sinclair)		? - 1965 - ?
	Booth & Kohlerman, (carriage builders)	1013 Edgmont Ave.	William Booth	1900
	Bove & Fleming Sunoco	4th & Flower St.	Nick Fleming	c. 1954 (?) - 1981	"My father in law ran a Sunoco station at 4th and Flower. He closed it in 1981 and retired to Ocean City." Thanks to Lou Cortese, son-in-law.
Photo courtesy of Joe Carpenter, jcarpn@ix.netcom.com (Click on the image to see the full size picture)	Carpenter Car Transport		James H. Carpenter		"The picture... is a picture of his Truck and trailer, with three brand new cars on it. He delivered new cars. (1929) I can't identify the cars, but I am pretty sure that they were Fords. I have a letter which shows that he quit as the Police Chief of Elizabethtown, to become Chief of Guards at Ford, in Chester, and I assume, he must have hooked-up with Ford." Joe Carpenter, son, jcarpn@ix.netcom.com
	Chester Lincoln-Mercury Corp.	6th & Madison St. Used cars, 9th & Lloyd St. in 1950	G.M. Stull, Pres. 1948	1948 -
	Chester Mack (1)	2nd St. near Market			Mack Truck & Studebaker Dealer
	Chester Mack Truck Sales	W. 2nd St., above Edgmont Ave., below Penn St.
	Chester Motor Company	711 Concord Ave.		? - 1941 - ?	"Hudson Built Fine Motor Cars" From their ad in the 1941 Chester High Yearbook.
	Chester Tire Co.	941 W 9th St. (corner of 9th & Pusey)	Sid Cohen ?	? - 1965 - ?
	Chief's Auto Glass	401 Booth St. (front) 494-5608		- 1960's -
	Concord Hudson	711 Concord Ave. & 9th & Flower St.		? - 1952 - c. 1956 or 1957	"Must have gone out of business 1956-57. I was in Chester High and two of my friends, Richard MacNeilly and John Vankoski took a test drive in a 1957 Edsel convertible (Pink and White) All three of us were sitting in the back and a salesman was driving. Must been September of 1956. It was an Edsel dealership then." Thanks to Rudy Koch
	Cornwall Motor Company	4th & Welsh St.		? - 1937 - 1965 - ?	Cadillac & La Salle Dealer, Goodyear Tires
	Geo. T. Courtney	624 W. 6th St.		? - 1915 - ?	"Auto Tanks & Fenders, lamps & Radiators Repaired" Thanks to their ad in a Chester High annual, courtesy of Janet Andrews Moulder, Wilmington, DE
	Ed's Arco	4th & Highland Ave.
	Ed's Auto Body Shop	1112 W 9th St.		? - 1965 - ?
	Edsel Dealership	Concord Ave. between 7th & 8th St.			This was formerly a Hudson or Packard dealership. [See Concord Hudson.] It later became headquarters for a Plumbing and Heating business.
	Fenza's Auto Repair	Broomall St. (between 2nd & 3rd)	Pete Fenza, founder Sonny Fenza (son of Pete, the founder) Pete Fenza (son of Sonny)	Mid 1930's - Present	"Fenzas auto repair. Located between 2nd & 3rd on Broomall St. Founded by Pete Fenza in the mid 1930's , has been in continuous operation since then. Now being run by Pete's son, Sonny, and his son, Pete. Great guys, good mechanics. Oldest garage in the city, and tied with NightOwls for the oldest family run business" Thanks to Frank DeMaio
Photo courtesy of Alfonso Sanbe	Firestone	9th & Edgmont (Across from Painter's Appliance Store) later, after c. 1972 9th & Booth (?)	Edward Kessler, manager 1948 until retirement in 1974 d. 11/16/2005		"My dad, Edward Kessler was the manager there from 1948 to the time he retired in 1974. By that time, the store had relocated to 9th and Booth, (I think) and had been there about 1-2 years at the time of his retirement. I can remember one time a car crashed right into one of the plate glass windows of the store and, fortunately, no one was hurt but alot of bicycles, refrigerators and so forth were damaged." - Mary Ann Barrow Villanova, Pa mabarrow@att.net
	Forster's Gulf Station	22nd & Edgmont	George Forster	1950's - very early 1970's	"George Forster owned a Gulf Station at the corner of 22nd and Edgemont Ave across from the church [Nativity Evangelical Lutheran]. It is now a vacant lot. He also lived right next door to it, so his commute was about 30 seconds." Thanks to Tom Bulger
	Franklin Garage & Service Station [Business card]	506 Kerlin St. (5th & Kerlin Sts.)	Mr. Demaio	1937 - 1965	"My father built and operated the Franklin Garage at 5th and Kerlin sts from 1937 until he retired in '65. My brothers and me all worked there after school and during the summer. I remember my father working late at night during wwII soldering radiators together for the tanks they were building at Baldwins. After the war he expanded the building and began selling cars and supplying dump trucks to local contractors. Dozens of different guys worked there over the years. Its long gone now. Anybody else remember it?" Thanks to Frank Demaio
	Gallagher Bros., Inc.	7th & Sproul Sts.		c. 1908 - 1941 - ?	"Best Bet's Buick" From their ad in the 1941 Chester High Yearbook.
	Gash-Stull	2nd & Front St.			"When I was 18 and just out of H.School I worked for a company that I don't see in your info. Gash- Stull Co at 2nd and Front Street. I believe it had been there for quite some time. It was right next to Reynolds Metals." Linda Williamson Westerside, klwesterside@erols.com
	General Chevrolet	75 W. 9th St. TR4-5281	Al Chariot	1934 or 1936-1959	Later became King Chevrolet "My dad was Jimmy Bottone, he sold Chevrolet's for General Chevrolet, & a dealership located in Trainer for many yrs. I know alot of people bought automobiles from him for many yrs. and wouldn't buy from anyone else because they trusted his judgement." jamesdiane@juno.com Click here for a picture of a General Chevrolet car (c. 1950) used for Driver Training at St. James' High School "Al Chariott ,owner of General Chevrolet in Chester also owned Interboro Chevrolet on Chester pike in Glenolden. He first opened it on Chester Pike in Prospect Park in 1935. In 1954 he built a new dealership at 135 S. Chester Pike in Glenolden. It was sold upon his death in 1978 to John Meissner. Interboro and General Chevrolet were run simultaneously. My dad, Steve Dick managed it from 1954 till 1975. I started there in 1960 and took over managing it when my dad retired. I ran it until it was sold in 1978. From there I managed Loughead Pontiac in Swarthmore from 1978 til 2000 when I went to Rothrock Chevrolet in Springfield, where I am now. Between my dad Steve sr. , my son Steve III and myself , we have over 97 combined years of selling cars in Delaware County. We have literally sold thousands of cars. p.s. Al Chariott opened General Chevrolet in Chester in 1934 and sold it to the Farello Bros. the owners of King Chevrolet. They sold it to Raj Chevrolet in 1995. it is now a Kenworth truck dealership." Thanks to Steve Jr.
	G-K Motors	9th & Engle St.	George Kereszi (brother of Joe, Joe's Junkyard, & Lou, Lou's Auto Parts, Kereszi).	? - 1952 - 1980's
	Harris & Leonard, Inc. Tire Distributors	1301 W 9th St.		? - 1965 - ?
	Highland Service Station & Garage	2830 W. 3rd St. (below Highland Ave.)		? - 1917 - ?	"General automobile repairing" Thanks to their ad in the 1917 Chester High annual, courtesy of Janet Andrews Moulder, Wilmington, DE
	Hyman Stein Auto Parts Store	7th St. near Penn (earlier in the 800 block of Welsh St.)			Fire on August 17, 1949. "I remember being on the roof with a hose line and it was so cold the nozzle froze up." Thanks to Bill Crystle
	Jerry's Gas Station	2nd St.	Jerry Zaharkiw / Zacharkiw (sp?)		"They later moved to Aston, sold and retired to Florida, now they reside in Maryland with their son."
	Joe DiCostanza's Garage (3)	Front & Flower St.	Joe DiCostanza		"I got a pass for ferry. Was issued to me by Lew. Kapleski after the ferry started running. I had a garage at Front & Flower St. I did a lot of repairs on the Ferry boats. I took care of the towing of cars that broke down." Joe DiCostanza
[Click here for a vintage Joe's Junkyard Ad!]	Joe's Junkyard (1)	3305 W 9th St. Trainer, PA	Joe Kereszi (d. 1992) - a former boxer Later run by his wife, Eloyse, and sons Joe (Jr.) and Mark Kereszi until closing in June 2003.	1949 - June 2003	"I asked about Joe and told them how I used to be a regular customer about 45yrs. ago. They said Joe passed away 8-10yrs.ago &one fellow sorted through a pile of paper and handed me the ad. I almost fell over! The picture was just as I remembered him when I first started going there! His last name was Kereszi. His Brother Lou is still alive and operates a smaller operation [Lou's Auto Parts] next door." Paul Crowther (1), September 2000
	Kelman's Public Garage	11-17 E 7th St.	Benjamin Kelman (father of Bill Kellman who operated William M. Kellman's Appliances across 7th St.)	? - 1937 - ?	"Washing - Greasing - Polishing - Storage - Repairing - Battery Service - Lee Tires" according to their ad in the June 1937 Southern Penn Bus Schedule Book, courtesy of Terry Redden Peters
	Key Buick (1)	10th & Morton Ave. Morton Ave. & Rose St.			Formerly O'Brien Buick "Later bought by Scott Paper Co." Thanks to Thomas McKniff, Sr. Ron3597@aol.com
	King Chevrolet	75 W. 9th St. TR4-5281	Farello Bros. They sold it to Raj Chevrolet in 1995.	c. 1959 - 1995	Formerly General Chevrolet Later Raj Chevrolet
	L & H Body & Fender Shop	3rd & Dock St.	Stanley Lejman later his sons John & Eddie Lejman		"My Grandfather, Stanley Lejman owned the body shop, after his death in the early 60s, my Father John Lejman and his brother Eddie Lejman ran the shop. All are now deceased." Thanks to Beth Ann Lejman Stack
	F. Wallace Lappin	Ridley & Morton Aves., Chester		? - 1937 - ?	"Studebaker Sales: according to their ad in the June 1937 Southern Penn Bus Schedule Book, courtesy of Terry Redden Peters
Photo courtesy of Tammy Long Degand, moonchild713@charter.net (Click on the image to see the full size picture)	Long's Auto Service	1964-1970: 1008 Kerlin St. alley 1970-1972: 4th St. Chester 1972 moved to Linwood	Willard "Willie" F. Long	? - 1965 - 1972 - ?	Thanks to Tammy Long Degand, daughter, moonchild713@charter.net
	Lord's Garage	8th & Welsh Streets			See Berman Brothers Auto Service above
A view of Loughead Pontiac dealership taken during the 1963 Pulaski Day Parade Courtesy of Joe Smagala	Loughead Pontiac	1926: 7th & Lloyd 1941, 1948: 9th & Sproul (1940) 11th & Edgmont TR6-3314	C. R. Loughead (son of DR Loughead)	? - 1926 - 1975 - ?	"PONTIAC The Most Trouble Free in the World $801 and up, Delivered (1940)" Betty-Jane Bennett Smith, Smith9697@aol.com Showroom & service department built c. 1949. Expanded to another showroom on Chester Rd. near Swarthmore in 1975 January 2001: Luxury Limousine Service, Inc. announced plans to consolidate their operations at the former Loughead Used Car facility.
	Lord Brothers, Inc.	8th & Welsh St.			Took over the Studebaker franchise from Joseph Schlosbon in 1925.
	Lou's Auto Parts	W. 9th St. (next to Joe's Junkyard"	Lou Kereszi, (brother of Joe Kereszi Sr.), now run by his sons Lou Jr., David and Jim
Photo 5/7/2000 John A. Bullock III. (Click for a larger view)	Luke Motors	15th & Providence Ave.	Bill Luke	1944 - ?	"Luke Motors at 15th and Providence was previously occupied by my father, C W Worst, who was the Oldsmobile dealer until 1944, when he sold the business to Bill Luke." Thanks to Robert P. Worst Johns Island, SC The Luke Motors building is now used for offices on the Widener University campus. The building formerly (c. 1937) housed Stephani & Downes Chevrolet.
	McGinley's Auto Body Shop	2nd & Engle	Glen McGinley (Son of Henry McGinley who operated McGinley's Esso, McGinley's Sinclair and McGinley's Sunoco.	c. 1980 - Present	Thanks to Glen McGinley, Chester, PA.
	Miller	Sproul St. between 8th & 9th	John S. Miller		Building by John B. Flounders, Media, PA, was nearing completion in June 1925.
	Miller's Garage	716 W. 10th St.	Robert Miller	? - 1950's - 1959 - ?	Phone number CHester 2-4622. Owner was Robert Miller with his son working with him. They were their from the early 1950's to ???. Thanks to Rudy Koch
	Murphy Ford	9th & Sproul St.	Daniel A. Murphy, founder, president 1974	1955 - Present	Currently located at I-95 & Highland Ave.
Photo courtesy of Mr. Jack Swerman, AIA (Click on the image to see a larger version)	O'Brian Buick	10th & Morton Ave.			Later became Key Buick
	Palo Tire Service, Inc.	165 Keystone Road 494-2240		- 1960's -
	Park Garage	3rd & Highland Ave.	T. H. Quinn	? - 1917 - ?	"Storing, repairing, painting, Vulcanizing, Free air" Thanks to their ad in the 1917 Chester High annual, courtesy of Janet Andrews Moulder, Wilmington, DE
	Penn-Jersey	8th & Welsh later 6th & Sproul (near Sears)			"The Penn-Jersey Auto Store was located 8th and Welsh. Later, late 60's or very early 70's the store move near the Sears store close to the Pa Railroad train bridge on Sproul street and 6th. Here is a mint 1957 catalog (published in York, Pa). The store sold ROSS bikes, P-J lawn mowers, Roadmaster tires, various auto accessories electric drills, tools, 44 cents oil filters and more..." Thanks to Rudy Koch
	Pep Boys	9th & Welsh			Located on the ground floor of the Knights of Columbus building. "I just came by a 1954 Pep Boys Catalog that I had picked up at the PEP BOYS Store 9th and Welsh Streets back in 1954. I remember that I, as a 13-14 year old, use to buy accessories for my bike. Later in life I purchased seat covers ++ accessories for my 1950 Plymouth. Here is a picture of the catalog. They also sold Emerson and Philco radios." Thanks to Rudy Koch
	W. Paul Peters	416 Highland Ave.		? - 1917 - ?	"Automobile accessories, racing tires" Thanks to their ad in the 1917 Chester High annual, courtesy of Janet Andrews Moulder, Wilmington, DE
	Pomerantz & Nichols	9th St. (between King Chevrolet & Gash-Stull (Murphy) Ford			Automotive Upholstery Thanks to Glen McGinley, Chester, PA.
	C. A. Powers, Inc., Goodyear tire dealership	8th & Crosby			Thanks to granddaughter, Janet Lloyd Murphy, jklm@craftech.com
	Raj Chevrolet	75 W. 9th St.		c. 1995 - ?	Formerly King Chevrolet and earlier General Chevrolet.
	Reynolds' Spring (1)	4th & Morton Ave.			Manufactured Auto Seat Spring assemblies
	Scattolini Motors, Inc.	1019 E 9th St		? - 1978 - ?
	Schlosbon's Garage & Sales Co.	1127 Edgmont Ave.	Joseph J. Schlosbon
	Edwarde W. Smedley & Son	611 Welsh St.			Nash Dealership
	F. L. & W. A. Smith	931 Edgmont Ave.		? - 1917 - ?	"Delco reps for the Cole Eight, Grand Six" Thanks to their ad in a Chester High annual, courtesy of Janet Andrews Moulder, Wilmington, DE
	Stephani & Downes Chevrolet	15th & Providence Ave.		? - 1937 - ?	Chevrolet Dealer according to their ad in the June 1937 Southern Penn Bus Schedule Book, courtesy of Terry Redden Peters This building later housed Luke Motors
	Adolph Stubler (Dodge Dealer)	9th St. between Sproul & Welch	Adolph Stubler	? - 1950s - 1960's - ?	"Adloph Stubler was a Dodge dealer in the 1950's to 1960's. New car show room was on 9th street, between Sproul and Welch Streets. The used car lot was directly across street. I walked by their every day when I went to Smedley Jr High School." Thanks to Rudy Koch
	J. Francis Taylor, Inc.	9-11 E 9th St.		? - 1937 - ?	"Dodge - Plymouth Passenger Cars & Trucks; A large selection of better grade used cars" according to their ad in the June 1937 Southern Penn Bus Schedule Book, courtesy of Terry Redden Peters
	Towns End Auto Repairs	2228 W. 9th St. 485-8222		- 1960's -
	Two-Minute Car Wash	1516 Providence Rd. TR4-0040		c. 1953 or 1954 to present
	Al Warrington Motors	700 W. 7th (7th & Parker St.)			Chrysler Plymouth dealer. 1949: Sold to M.R. Sanders & Herman Wenograde
	Watkins Motors	2nd & Palmer	Bob & Dwain Watkins	c. 1953 - ?	GMC, Jeep, Fruehauf Truck sales, service, leasing & rental
	Wenmore Motors, Inc.	700 W. 7th (7th & Parker St.) Later 9th & Butler	M.R. Sanders & Herman Wenograde		Formerly Al Warrington Motors
	C. W. Worst Oldsmobile	15th & Providence Ave.	C. W. Worst	? - 1944	"Luke Motors at 15th and Providence was previously occupied by my father, C W Worst, who was the Oldsmobile dealer until 1944, when he sold the business to Bill Luke." Thanks to Robert P. Worst Johns Island, SC
	R. Zeitzeff's Sons Junk Yard & Auto Glass & Trim Shop	9th & Pusey St.	Abe & Joe Zeitzeff	? - 1960's	"Some time in the 1960's they moved up to Chester Pike in Eddystone." Thanks to Brian McClay, uscolt45@aol.com
	Zig's Radiator Shop	401 Booth St. (side) 494-6610		- 1960's -