Murray's Garage opened in 1932 by Melvin Earl Murray. The business was later renamed Murray's of Neepawa in 1964.
Custodial History
See Fonds level description for custodial history
Scope and Content
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. 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.
Notes
Description by Jillian Combs. Information from Manitoba Hisotrical Society,
Photograph shows Western Motors Ltd. on the southwest corner of 10th Street and Princess Avenue. Anglo gas station is part of the car shop, which sells GM, Chevrolet, and Oldsmobiles.
Hutchings' Drugs is on the ground floor of the Hughes Building on the northwest corner of 10th Street and Princess. Manufacturers Life occupies the second storey.
The 1901 Canadian Census places the Lehigh family near Brockville, Ontario, where Everett E. Lehigh (b. 19 May 1881) was farming with his widowed father Solon (b. 20 Aug 1849) and younger sister, Edna (b. 08 Feb 1884). The findagrave.com genealogical website identifies a Mary Wickware as marrying Everett E. Lehigh in Alqonquin, Ontario, on 04 April 1905.
E.E. Lehigh appears in the Henderson's Brandon City Directories in 1919. By 1923, he was Vice-President of Motors Ltd., which had its shop on 151-7th Street. By 1925, Lehigh had taken over the garage, renaming it Lehigh Motors, which became the sole agent for McLaughlin Motor Cars. By 1927, Lehigh Motors had opened a second branch on 12th Street and Princess Avenue, which was formerly the Brandon Auto Garage. Lehigh had become the exclusive dealer for McLaughlin-Buick, Pontiac, and Oldsmobile motor cars.
It appears Lehigh moved his business, E.E. Lehigh Ltd., to 799 Pacific Avenue by 1929. By then, Lehigh had a head office in Winnipeg at 640 Portage Avenue where he served as president and was the provincial distributor for Rugby trucks and Durant cars. Although E.E. Lehigh had a residence in Brandon (325 - 14th Street), Mr. S.G. Cunningham was listed as the Brandon representative for Lehigh Motors Ltd. in the Henderson Directories. By 1931, E.E. Lehigh Ltd. had moved once again, this time to 151-153 - 9th Street.
E.E. Lehigh disappears from the Henderson's Brandon City Directory by 1933 and a Mrs. E.E. Lehigh (possibly Mary (Wickware) Lehigh, d.21 July 1943) is listed under the 14th Street residence. The 9th Street garage address is divided between Munns Taxi (151-9th Street) and Wheat City Auto Wreckers (153-9th Street.)
Custodial History
Photograph was in possession of Mrs. Ruby Miles, who passed the image on to Fred McGuinness. McGuinness makes reference to Mrs. Miles and this photograph in his Sunbeams column (Source: F.A. Rosser, "Another interesting chat with a daughter of the plains," Brandon Sun 18 Aug 1981).
Scope and Content
Photograph shows a group portrait of 33 individuals standing and seated in front of the business E.E. Lehigh Ltd., Brandon. The storefront window has a sign that reads: Durant Motor Cars, E.E. Lehigh Ltd., Brandon. The door to the business has Lehigh Motors stencilled on the window. The men are wearing jackets and ties, and there are three women, possibly clerical staff, wearing 1920s era dresses. The elderly man seated in the centre of the photograph, wearing a long-sleeved white dress shirt might be Everett E. Lehigh.
Notes
Writing on the front of the photograph is embossed: C.J. Smith
Photograph shows the Red Indian (Gasoline) Station on the north side Princess Avenue between 9th and 10th Streets, Brandon. Attached to the west side of the gas station is another shop which contains Hutchings' Drug Store. The Alexandra Block on 10th Street is visible in the background.
Photograph shows the Greyhound Bus Depot at 11th Street and Princess Avenue. Western Motors, Wheelers Esso Station, and the Prince Edward Hotel are visible along the south side of Princess Avenue. Traffic is travelling one-way on Princess Avenue.