HomeMy WebLinkAboutHomecoming '87, 1987-07-01, Page 16PAGE A-16. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 1987.
Homecoming '87
McCutcheon Motors
grew out of farmer’s
1930 repair service
McCutcheon Motors Ltd., as it is
now known, was first established
by Harry McCutcheon, who, in the
early 1930’s started a repair
serviceon his farm, on the sixth
concession of Morris Township,
2‘/j miles from Brussels. During
the day, Mr. McCutcheon farmed
and in the evenings repaired cars.
About 1934 he was appointed a
Canadian Tire Dealer, and for five
years he operated this business
and farmed at the same time at his
home. He would drive to Toronto
and purchase cars which he resold
in the community. He then moved
his Canadian Tire business to the
old woolen mill in Brussels, which
was situated on the river bank on
the east side of Turnberry Street, at
the present site of the Medical
Building. The old mill had been
converted into a garage by W.A.
Lowery of the village.
Joe Kelly operated the service
station from the south half of the
building, while Mr. McCutcheon
carriedonhisbusinessfrom the
north section.
Two years later he rented the
building, across the road from the
old mill, which was formerly the
Pope property, and for three years
operated a service repair shop and
a Canadian Tire store.
When the W.A. Lowery proper
ty was made available for pur
chase, Mr. McCutcheonbought
the building and moved his
business back across the road and
added a used car business to his
other services. Mr. McCutcheon
operated this business until his
death in January 1946.
In May of that year, the garage
and service station was purchased
from the McCutcheon estate by
George E. McCutcheon and John
L. Rice. They named their opera
tion Riverside Motors and carried
on in partnership for three years.
During that period, they were
signed as an associate Chev-Olds
dealer in conjunction with Seaforth
Motors.
In 1949 George McCutcheon
purchased the interest held by J ack
Rice in Riverside Motors. In 1950 a
direct franchise with General
Motors of Canada, as the dealer for
Chev-Olds in Brussels and area,
was granted.
In 1952 the present building of
McCutcheon Motors Ltd. was
built, but the business continued
under the name of Riverside
Motors until July 1, 1958 when
McCutcheon Motors Ltd. was
incorporated under the laws of
Ontario as a private limited
company under the presidency of
George E. McCutcheon, vice
president, John L. McCutcheon
and secretary, Barbara J. McCut
cheon.
Further expansion included the
purchase of the house and property
of the east side of the shop in 1965 -
from the estate of Mrs. A.
Armstrong. In 1967 the former
Massey Ferguson building was
obtained from Elmer Somers, and
is now the used car lot.
In January 1970, the Company
changed directors and John L.
McCutcheon became president,
George E. McCutcheon, vice
president, and Esther McCut
cheon, secretary.
The Company operated under
thisdirectorship with the assis-
, tance of a number of faithful senior
employees, Mabel Willis (1951)
Mel Me Arter (1955), Robert Rich
mond (1958), Gerald McCauley
(1962) Donald Bray (1963) John
Exel (1973), plus many junior
employee’s who were to come and
go-
On Aug. 1, 1976 the Sales &
Service operation of McCutcheon
Motors Limited was sold to a new
Company and registered as J.L.
McCutcheon Motors Ltd., with the
same officers, except for Robert
Richmond who is now Vice Presi
dent.
The Dealership expanded to the
west side of Turnberry Street in
December, 1979 with the purchase
of the previously owned Bridge
Motors building. This shop is used
for Auto Body and Used Car
reconditioning plus a truck sales
lot.
This General Motors Dealership
has been an asset to the community
for many years. Through Appren-
ticeshipprograms, manyyoung
people got their start in the
Automotive trade in Brussels.
An old car buff would be easily able to date this postcard of the main street of Brussels, looking south. Little
of the landscape has changed today. Photo courtesy of Paul Nichol, Brussels.
Happy Birthday
Brussels!
R.R.1, Blyth
Cone. 12, Hullett coo /■ yiozz
2mileseastofHwy.4 3^0'44^0
Best Wishes
on your 115th
BIRTHDAY
Be sure and come in and browse
at our "In-Store Specials
Ken & Liz Sholdice
KEN'S MEN'S
& BOYS
WEAR
Turnberry St.
Brussels 887-9284
to our
friends
the Village
and customers m
of Brussels
We're pruu^ served this community
Rice's Store
Open:
6daysaweek
9a.m.to9p.m.
Closed Sunday