Murray's Garage opened in 1932 by Melvin Earl Murray. Before it's opening in 1932 the building was used as a truck and storage facility, the business opened for automotive sales after Earl Murray had recieved a contract by General Motors in 1932. The first sale of a vehicle occurred in 1933 when a customer from Winnipeg bought a Pontiac vehicle. During the first few years of operation Earl Murray served as the Office Manager, Parts Manager, and Salesman but in 1934 an additional contract with the International Harvester Co. giving license to the additional sale of farm equipment. This new expansion resulted in the hiring of other staff to handle Parts and Service while the sales of the farm machinery remained Earl's responsibility.
The business aquired many contracts over the course of its existence as such new propoerties were aquired to allow for this expansions and new additions were added to the original building. When the new addition was near completion an explosion occured which resulted in 100% loss of the original building as well as all the contents it enclosed. Luckily, the fire department was able to save most of the new addition. A sizable loan was required for the buisness to rebuild after this disaster. Once the business was open again, car sales, need for parts, and service volume increased resulting in the complete recovery of the buisness.
In 1940 due to the war the purchase of new vehicles was limited to emergency service. It was at this time that General Motors added the Cheverolet-Oldsmobile to their contracts. Shortly after this a tornado hit the building causing substantial damage however it was soon repaired and business resumed.
Earl's son, Gerald, had worked in the business since his return from the war in 1945. He schooled in in Flint Michigan at a General Motors Business Institute to assist his father with the business. In 1960 Gerald took a course in Detroit Michigan in a Post Graduate School of Modern Merchandising and Management. After his completion of this course Gerald moved back to Neepawa and took of the position of Sales Manager at his fathers garage. The business was later renamed Murray's of Neepawa in 1964 when Earl handed the keys to the business over to his son Gerald.
Custodial History
See Fonds level description for custodial history
Scope and Content
Image is of Murray's Garage exterior view. The photo was taken from across the street. There are a series of signs on the building "Firestone" on the peak of the building, "Murray's used cars" on the roof, and "Murrays Pontiac, Buick, GMC, Trucks" down the front of the building above the main entrance. Murray's Garage appears to be next to a Texaco station.
Notes
Description by Jillian Combs. Information from Manitoba Hisotrical Society
File consists of lists of accounts receivable outstanding, Bobcats program reports, correspondence, recommendations to the Board, copies of legal documents, Brandon University non-academic staff lists, Fincance Committee minutes and other records.
Storage Location
RG 6 Brandon University fonds
Series 2: Board of Governors
2.4 Correspondnece and subject files
Box 5
File consists of correspondence, the proposed conflict of interest policty for directors of A.E. McKenzie Co. Ltd., reports, news releases, a copy of the Brandon University master development plan (1967), and other records.
Notes
A substantial portion of the file deals with McKenzie Seeds.
Storage Location
RG 6 Brandon University fonds
Series 2: Board of Governors
2.4 Correspondnece and subject files
Box 5
File consists of a list of the duties of the Secretary to the Board, agendas, minute excerpts, financial information (salaries, auditor's report), correspondence, reports to the Board, the opinion of Harvey Young (Arbitrator) in the case of Brandon University Faculty Association on behalf of Professor Cheong against the Board of Governors of Brandon University and an order-in-council, as well as other records.
Storage Location
RG 6 Brandon University fonds
Series 2: Board of Governors
2.4 Correspondnece and subject files
Box 5
File consists of correspondence, memos and reports. Subject matter includes hardship allowances, salary negotiations, credit extension remuneration, and plenipotentiaries.
Storage Location
RG 6 Brandon University fonds
Series XV: BUFA
Box 2
File consists of a statement on Brandon University's budget position, a discussion paper entitled "Guidelines on employee benefit plans in Manitoba," BUFA salary information, recommended alteration to the BUFA brief and a copy of the credit extension renumeration agreement.
Storage Location
RG 6 Brandon University fonds
Series XV: BUFA
Box 3
File consists of memos, executive list (1980/1985), salary information, recommendations, reports (including one on the aims of Brandon University), job descriptions for various positions, copies of various signed articles, a copy of the BUFA constitution, faculty handbook revisions, BUFA proposals and collective agreements.
Notes
File artificially created July 19/06 (CMH).
Storage Location
RG 6 Brandon University fonds
Series XV: BUFA
Box 6
File consists of BUFA newsletters, meeting agendas, recommended alterations to the BUFA brief, a proposed collective agreement, and a report from the BUFA-Board of Governors' Salary Negotiating Committees.
Notes
File artificially created July 19/06 (CMH).
Storage Location
RG 6 Brandon University fonds
Series XV: BUFA
Box 6
Related Material
RG 6, series 15 (BUFA), files 54, 60, and 110-114.
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