Nolan Chevrolet, Casper Wyoming

Nolan Chevrolet was an early Chevrolet dealership in Casper, Wyoming, probably the town's first.  It opened in this building, which was built for it, in 1924.  The company originally operated in this location on South David Street until it outgrew it, becoming Schulte Chevrolet in 1965 and then being bought out by the Schellerbargers in 1966.

In 1969 the Chevrolet dealership moved out of this downtown location into a new facility on East Yellowstone, where it is today.  While this facility was still in use when I was a kid, I don't ever recall it being a Chevrolet dealership and until this recent work was done on it, I didn't know that it had been.

In 1973 this building and a neighboring one became Plains Furniture, which I do recall. A childhood friend of mine's father worked there.  It was completely redone at that time.  Plains closed some time ago and these buildings have changed hands again and are part of a restoration process which is restoring the look of the block to its 1920s appearance.  The area here, which was once a display yard for the dealership, had been enclosed by the Plains remodeling but has been re exposed, along with the Nolan sign and a Schellabarger sign as well.

Buick dealership, Rock Srpings, Wyoming

This is the back of a building in Rock Springs that once housed the Buick dealership.  I'm not sure of the vintage of the dealership but nearby Bunning Park was put in during the early 1920s.

Folded Products Co., A Classic Touch, Ft. Collins Colorado.

This is a nicely preserved older brick building in Ft. Collins Colorado that has housed A Classic Touch motorcycles for at least 25 years.  At one time, according to the painted sign on the top of the building, it housed the Folded Products Company, although I have no idea what that was.

Cars of the past

This building serves as the VFW in Lead, South Dakota. It was obviously a fine car dealership, however, offering Hudsons and Terraplanes.

Today, small dealerships of all types are in danger. It hardly seems possible that once every small town had several, let alone that there were so many manufacturers.

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