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Murray's Garage (Neepawa) - exterior

http://archives.brandonu.ca/en/permalink/descriptions14337
Part Of
CKX fonds
Description Level
Item
GMD
graphic
Date Range
1954
Accession Number
11-2010
Part Of
CKX fonds
Creator
CKX
Description Level
Item
Series Number
M
Item Number
11-2010.M7a
Accession Number
11-2010
GMD
graphic
Date Range
1954
Material Details
Negative
History / Biographical
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,
Name Access
D.R. MacKay
Subject Access
building exteriors
downtown
Neepawa
Repro Restriction
Canadian Copyright Law may apply. Consult the archivist for access
Storage Location
CKX fonds - 2010 accessions
Related Material
D.R. MacKay fonds, Brandon College fonds, Brandon University fonds
Arrangement
Original order maintained. Series arranged alphabetically by letter (A-Z) but negatives not alphabetical within each series.
Images
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