Tag Archives: Georgia Automobile Dealerships

Dawson Motor Company, 1914

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The introduction of the automobile was a phenomenon of the early 1900s that transformed Georgia, from its small rural towns to its biggest cities. This trend came early to Dawson with the construction of the Dawson Motor Company on Main Street in 1914. I generally associate the Art Deco/Streamline Moderne style with automobile dealerships, so the Colonial Revival appearance of the Dawson Motor Company is unusual. The building has been restored and has most recently been home to a ceramics studio.

Dawson Historic District, National Register of Historic Places

Garage + Ford Dealership, Circa 1920s, Boston

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When this commercial garage was built, Jefferson Street (also known as the Old Boston Road) was the first east-west paved highway in southwest Georgia. It later became US Highway 84. This was the era when automobiles were first becoming widespread and entrepreneurs were first establishing businesses to serve this new mode of transportation. It has also been suggested that this building later served as a Ford dealership.

Boston Historic District, National Register of Historic Places

Automobile Dealership + Elberton Arts Center, 1948, Elberton

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This former automobile dealership (I haven’t tracked down which one) was restored in 2014 and now serves as the Elberton Arts Center. It’s an architectural style known as Streamline Moderne, which was popular with automobile dealers after World War II for its modern appearance. Many Streamline Moderne structures have been demolished, so it’s nice to see Elberton put this one to good use. It’s located next door to another modern landmark in Elberton, the old health clinic featured in the previous post.

Lawson Motor Company Building, 1920s, Jasper

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This structure was originally home to the Lawson Motor Company/Lawson Chevrolet, but is now a restaurant known as The Old Mule Barn. My understanding is that it was built in the early 1920s. Though the Lawson family did own a mule barn near here, this was not used for that purpose. It is a great repurposing of an historic structure, nonetheless. This information comes from an article in the Pickens County Progress by Blake Moss, who was in high school at the time he wrote it. Every town should be so lucky to have students so engaged in local history.

Historic Storefront, Mitchell

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R. M. Coleman operated a Chevrolet dealership in Mitchell in the 1920s and perhaps into the 1930s. This structure is likely older than that association, and since it features several murals, may just be honoring the historic dealership.

Camilla Motor Company Building

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Camilla Commercial Historic District, National Register of Historic Places

Penn Chevrolet Murals, Gordon

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Penn Chevrolet was Gordon’s dealership and located adjacent to this building (if I understand correctly), which has murals honoring the business on both sides.

Darien Motor Company, 1947

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This has been remodeled and now serves as the Darien firehouse. Its Streamline Moderne architecture remains though the “tabby” walls have been replaced with stucco. O. C. Welch III notes that this was built in 1947 as Darien Motor Company. Melissa Stebbins Mundell writes: This building was built by my grandfather, Mose Edenfield, who served as the Mayor of Darien and as a Georgia State Senator. Sometime after his death in 1961, the dealership and building were purchased by my great-uncle, Clarence “Speed” Edenfield. It was next owned by O. C. Welch (a well-known car dealer in these parts). Dianne Parks notes that it was later Steve James Ford, Jack Nelson Ford, and Lilliston Ford. (These photographs were made in 2011).

Montezuma Motor Company, Circa 1920

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This Art Deco landmark was built for the Tom Huston Frozen Foods Company and was converted for use as the Montezuma Motor Company around 1950. It was a Ford Dealership.

Montezuma Historic District, National Register of Historic Places

Sheppard Oil Company, Leary

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According to Don King, this was part of the Sheppard Ford dealership at one time, but then became a business of its own: This used to be a Ford dealership years ago. It then was changed to Sheppard oil company. A diesel oil and gasoline distributor. They also sold gas and worked on cars. It was owned by the late Stanley Sheppard. It was in business while I was Police Chief there and closed while I was still there around 1996.