One of the research topics we have focused on this year is the local history of the automobile and automobile-related businesses. There was a presentation a couple of months ago, a tour last week, and a number of articles. Judging from the requests we have had for more, maybe another program next year would be in order.
Out of all this study we have gathered a very interesting list of company names. We will try to find out more about several of the businesses and maybe locate a photo or two. Some of the older names will be well-known to people who have purchased a vehicle in New Westminster - names that include Trapp, Fogg, Baxter, C.C .Brown, Jack Marshall and Mansell-Overand.
Some people will remember the building that is now Stefano's restaurant as being Western Auto Supply, and some might even remember back to C.C. Brown Car Sales near Albert Crescent, and Trapp and Baxter Motors at one time being on Columbia near Fourth Street, long before being near 10th Street.
We have been able to gather some images of a service station at Fourth Street at Columbia when it was a B/A gas dealer. On the other side of Fourth Street, there was a service shop for early Fords, possibly called Lawrence Motors, with one gas pump out front that actually serviced the autos in the Queen's/Guichon block.
A few other names from the early days of the auto in New Westminster cry out for more information. There was a service station on the river side of Columbia Street near the bridges, and although there are a few images of this business, we would love to see more of this aptly named Simon Fraser Gas Station. Remember that the monument to Simon Fraser was then across the street in Albert Crescent.
The Western Auto building was once apparently Sipprell Ralston Motors, a Dodge dealer in 1927. In the same time period and general area on Columbia, the C.C. Brown and Nemetz car sales firms were on the river side.
Another firm, known by a couple of names, Universal Motors and Pacific Motors, is truly intriguing for its position in the area on Columbia Street. It was located in the 400 block, river side of the street, across from, in today's terms, the Met Hotel and the Columbia SkyTrain station.
We only have a very poor newspaper image of the business, and it appears to have been in the buildings that are still there. We must find out more on this one.
This is but a sample of the really interesting stuff that can appear during a search. Do you have any photos of these or other early "automobile" companies? Do you have a piece of memorabilia from any such firms? This is a great part of our local history, not always enthusiastically approached today, but important nevertheless.
