I’m testing my memory once again since these car dealerships I’ve recorded on these pages did business many years ago. The first one I recall was Jeffer’s, which was located at the west end of Main Street. My sister worked there as a secretary for several years. It’s presently the Ford and Toyota location. It also may have sold Lincoln cars and all makes of used cars and trucks.
Coming up the same street on the north side, there was the Mohawk Chevrolet, which sold mainly that make of car. Later on, Tom Dillon bought that business and now it is owned and managed by Tom’s two sons, Tom Jr. and Jay and their families. They also sell used cars and trucks and the popular Chevrolet vehicles. I don’t remember any more on Main Street, but going up Federal Street, the first one I remember was George Wilcox, which sold Buicks. A bike shop is in that location now.
Next door, you will see the words “Weldon Garage” still on the outside of that building. If you stayed at the Weldon Hotel on High Street, this was the garage where your car or cars were kept in a safe place. Employees of the Weldon would take your car there and return it when you checked out of the hotel.
I remember that the upper end of Federal Street had these dealerships: Don Lorenz sold Oldsmobiles, Buicks and Cadillacs and other General Motors products. Hartwin Motors sold a Chrysler line of cars. That business is now Brown Motors.
Elsewhere, Cassidy sold the line of Pontiacs from the location that is now selling Hondas and used cars. Next door to Cassidy’s, there was a building where H.B.Allen may have sold cars and trucks, but it was mainly a large repair shop for all makes of vehicles.
I may have missed one or two, but, to the best of my recollection, these are the older businesses that Greenfield had in the way of car dealerships back then.
Robert Bitzer, of Erving is a lifelong resident of Franklin County, having been born in Greenfield. He is in his 90s and his columns are inspired by extensive photo albums and thorough collections of correspondence he has compiled over the years.