Ward's Vulcanizing Works, 1915

Collection Name:

George W. Perry Scrapbooks

Title:

Ward's Vulcanizing Works, 1915

Creator:

Perry, George W., 1891-1971

Creator Role:

Collector

Accession / Call Number:

1974.045

Object ID:

1974.045.31.005

Date:

1915

Type of Material:

graphic material

Physical Description:

1 photograph

Language:

English

Scope and Content:

Photographic print of Ward's Tire Service in Concord, NH, dated 1915. The caption states, "Ward's Vulcanizing Works. 27 South Main Street 1915 Mr. Ward first located in business at Penacook, where he conducted the Penacook Vulcanizing Works in the garage of C. P. Grimes. When Mr Grimes sold out he located at Hoyt's Garage, but with the rapid growth of business in the early part of 1912 he moved to the city proper and started in this location. More recently he opened an automible [automobile] supply and inquiry station on the state road several miles below the new Lower Bridge. From March 1912 the business increased until he was doing a big supply business with both dealers and consumers. In the spring of 1914 he opened a garage catering to Ford repairs at 75 South Main street, but the venture proved disastrous because Mr Ward was unable to give his personal supervision to both places. A reorganization of the business was necessary, but the perseverance of the young man stood him in good stead and in March, 1915, he was doing business again at his old stand, which he had retained in spite of reverses. One incident of Mr. Ward's business career, that attracted considerable local attention, concerns his repeated attempts to induce the city government to grant him the privilege of placing a gasoline pump on the curb. In October of this year the city government ordered all curb gasoline pumps to be taken in and MR. Ward complied with the order. The next month the garage adjacent to Mr. Ward was successful in a petition to locate a street pump to take the place of the one they had taken in. The adjacent firm placed their pump near the dividing line between the two places of business. When Mr. Ward applied for permission to relocate his pump, he was informed that it wasn't necessary to have two pumps located to close together and that his business was an obstruction to the similar business next door. For those reasons, which Mr. Ward declared were unjust, his petition had been refused, and he was obliged to carry gas to his customers in five-gallon cans across the side walk. Mr. Ward was selling the best in auto supplies, gasoline and bicycles and offered to the public a free delivery service within a radius of two miles. Any automobilist whose gasoline runs out or who had to stop on account of tire trouble within two miles of his place could secure the necessary assistance without extra charge by telephoning him. He guaranted [guaranteed] all of his vulcanizing beyound [beyond] an argument and sold tires on the Goodrich Fair List basis, keeping all tires in repair against accident until they have served for 3,500 miles of travel. The next door firm was Norris Dunklee's Garage, afterward Hall Brothers, 31 South Main. In this building at one time was the firm of the Concord Boston Express Company, belonging to the Day estate, Mrs. Harriet E. Day widow of Charles H. Day, home 194 N. Main st. In 1937 this site home of Capital Candy Land 27 South Main street. 1955 Home of 'Mickey's2 War surplus Goods Store."

Subjects:

Tires , Business

Locations:

Concord, NH

People:

Perry, George W., 1891-1971

Organizations:

Ward's Tire Service

Terms of Use:

For permission to reproduce or publish material from this collection, please contact the New Hampshire Historical Society. Researchers are responsible for following all copyright and intellectual property laws.

Credit Line:

Gift of May Nutter.

Restrictions:

Available for research.

Level Description:

Item

Box Number:

7