Martin Chevrolet Co., Saguache, Colorado

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" height=90 BGCOLOR="#003366" TEXT="#F7F7FF" bgproperties="fixed" background="008005a0dkcfqa.png"> <div> <A HREF="http://www.vernco.com/DealershipProject/index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.vernco.com/DealershipProject/"><U><B>home</B></U></A><B>     | </B><B> </B><B> </B><B>  </B><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><B>Willys De</B><B>alership Project</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>             Back to: </B><A HREF="id483.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Colorado"><U><B>Colorado</B></U></A><B> </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Use your browser's Back button for best results</B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> Martin Chevrolet Co.</div> <div> 404 Denver Avenue</div> <div> Saguache, Colorado</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> A series of <A HREF="http://www.slv.org/saguachelibrary/rememberwhen/index.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.slv.org/saguachelibrary/remem"><U>historical articles by Cecil Hall</U></A> have been published in the Saguache Crescent.  <A HREF="http://www.slv.org/saguachelibrary/rememberwhen/124.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.slv.org/saguachelibrary/remem"><U>The July 15, 1999 edition</U></A> makes mention of Jeeps being sold by the Martin Chevrolet Company, with pertinent details below:</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "A large brick building at the corner of 4th (Main St.) and Denver Ave. was built as a garage for Charlie Coleman. I am not sure of the year it was constructed, but Mr. Coleman had the dealership for Model T Fords, so that tells me it was before 1928 when Henry Ford started making Model A’s.</div> <div>  </div> <div> Charlie Coleman sold the business to L.W. (Luther) Gross who also had the Ford dealership for many years. L.W. Gross Garage, at one time, was one of the town’s largest employers. Three or four mechanics worked fulltime along with someone to repair tires and pump gas. Another crew kept busy hauling coal from Gunnison or Crested Butte and making deliveries in this area.</div> <div>  </div> <div> When L.W. Gross retired, Orval Martin bought the business and it became “Martin Chev. Co.” along with the Chev. dealership, Martins also sold Jeeps. Their head mechanic, Charlie Jenkins, was a government</div> <div> approved instructor, and taught several veterans under the G.I. Bill.</div> <bR> <div> Several years ago, the partnership of Dale Hazard and Scott Alexander started “Omega Cable” at this location. Since Dale has returned to fulltime ranching, Scott and his family have expanded to include a fitness center and tanning salon.  </div> <bR> <div> Lots of changes since this was the place you went to buy a Model T!"</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> While no years are specified for the time frame when Jeeps were sold, references to veterans and the GI Bill would most likely place this in the immediate Post WW2 era. </div> <bR> <div> I could not find a website for Omega Cable, but an address is listed in the <A HREF="http://www.slvguide.com/Saguache/Electric.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.slvguide.com/Saguache/Electri"><U>Saguache Business and Vacation Guide</U></A>.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>