Pics of Tom Henry Chevrolet over the last 53 years
Date(s): March 1, 2011. Album by scott settlemire. 1 - 14 of 59 Total. 1406 Visits.
1 this is where it all began. T. G. Henry (my great-grandfather) had a home on East Ohio Street in Millvale. It was taken in around 1922 to build the 40th street bridge. Being he worked on the B&O railroad, he purchased a piece of property in Callery, PA -- and shortly after opening a small store and gas station, he proceeded to build a new building (seen on the right) -- which would house my grandparents and mother and uncle as well as a general store, ice cream parlor, gas station, and a dance hall on the upper floor.
2 This is what the original dealership looked like shortly after opening day - Thomas B. Henry signed a Sales and Service Agreement on February 14, 1958 to become a Chevrolet Dealer after purchasing the "Marshall and Marks" Chevrolet Dealership in Bakerstown, PA.
3 And here is a picture of the Founder of Tom Henry Chevrolet - Thomas B. Henry - the photo was taken on February 14, 1958 -- the day he signed a "Sales and Service Agreement" to become a Chevrolet Dealer.
He was proud to be a Chevrolet dealer -- to the very day he went to "That Great Chevy Showroom in the Sky" two years ago.....
He, along with my father taught me so much - and they're the ones responsible for my love of "All Things Chevrolet." Perhaps these photos illustrate why I recall so much about Chevrolet from the past.....
I have been blessed to have grown up WHEN I did - WHERE I did -- with the FAMILY and FRIENDS that I have.....
4 Opening Day of "Tom Henry Chevrolet" on February 14th, 1958. In the foreground is a 1958 Bel Air 4-door sedan -- and in the background is the "new for '58" Impala Sport Coupe. The General Offices are behind the doors in the background....
5 Another view of the New Car showroom in the old building on opening day.............
6 Here's a picture of the "Service Department" in the basement of the old building. Note how many columns are in the way -making it a real task to get cars in and out..... Also note the early 50s Buick in the background. The service department moved to the new building in 1962-- and this basement was used for new car storage thru the fall/winter of 1965/1966. (I remember going down to see the 'hidden' 1966s prior to announcement day in the fall of 1965.)
7 Here's a 1959 Impala 4-door sedan in the original showroom.....it appears to be very well equipped judging by the bumper guards, white wall tires, wheel covers - and the 348 V-8 Engine. (note the crossed flags emblem on the hood that denotes a 348...) Also note the Mannequin and color charts in the background........
8 Here's a picture taken in the old building - and it's "Announcement Day, 1959!" This Impala Convertible was the flagship of the Chevrolet lineup at the time...that is, unless you were a Corvette fan!
Many younger people aren't aware that cars had annual changes to their appearance back then.....and the new models were kept under strict wraps until announcement day. Pity the poor dealer that allowed a new car to be seen - or worse, photographed prior to Announcement Day (invariably a Thursday)
9 The El Camino was an all-new model for 1959 - destined to take on the Ford Ranchero which hit the market in the 1957 Model year. Again - this is announcement day - note the decorations. In the back of the El Camino were apples plus a barrel of apple cider - some of the refreshments offered to the crowds that would cram the showroom that afternoon, evening, and Friday and Saturday as well.... Note the presence of another mannequin...........cars and fashion went together back then....
10 Uncle Tom builds a new Building!
The picture above shows the steel support beams going up for what would be the service department - notice the Used Cars in the foreground............
-- work started in 1961 on the new building - the first part of the building was finished just in time for the announcement of the 1962 Chevrolets......
I don't have pictures of that announcement - but they draped the walls of the service department in fabric and had about a half-dozen new Chevrolets on display in the new shop -
The main showroom in the old building remained open until early 1963....when the new showroom was added to the front of the new building. At that point, the old building was closed down and used only for storage.
11 Tom Henry Chevrolet's new building located at 5886 Wm. Flynn Highway, Bakerstown, PA. Circa 1963 -- the present-day display lot to the north of the building was not added until 1966-67. The original Body Shop in Bakerstown was relocated behind the new building in 1970-71
You can barely see the 'carport' just south of the new showroom - you could put approx. 18-20 cars under it - but it also was a great place for birds to build nests - so you can imagine the problem............
Also note the "Tom Henry Chevrolet" sign tower - this was long before the GM Sign Program (the ones you see today that are standardized) It was made from cast concrete decorative block - and lots of light fixtures up inside of it.......it was especially harrowing to have to change the flourescent tubes.....I tried doing that once..........ONCE.
My father used to say that it cost more to tear the sign down than it did to build it - however, it had to be removed when GM came ...
12 ---and in early 1963, the Grand Opening of Tom Henry Chevrolet's new dealership was held. As part of the celebration, a trailer truck was brought in from Detroit - -the "Travelling Chevy Show" -- and included (in addition to this very special Corvette) cut-away V8 and in-line 6 engines, cutaway transmissions, and color-trim displays. The Corvette would cycle up and down - at one point looking like a normal corvette - until the body would suddenly rise up off the chassis -- the headlights would rotate - and the doors would open.......the displays were built by Chevrolet Creative Services -- a division of General Motors.
And - given to all young boys and girls (...and a few older ones as well)....who attended - a 1/25th scale Red Corvette "Promo model" -
- For the ladies: A small bottle of Prince Machabelli's "Prophecy" perfume -- a rain hat - pot holders -- measuring cups - (all of course with the "Tom Henry Chevrolet" brand upon them)
And for the me...
13 Another picture of the "Magic Corvette" at the Grand Opening....
14 Another picture of the Grand Opening of the new Building -- this taken in the Service Department.......some of the walls were draped in fabric to hide the workbenches, toolboxes, and other equipment (note the decorative c cornice panels hanging from the ceiling.....and the Impala Convertible and Impala 4-door hardtop......
Guests were treated to various pastries ( I especially remember a huge cake with 1/25th scale Chevy models placed on the icing.......) and coffee, tea, and soft drinks - while listening to the big band sounds of "The Major Minors" - a Pittsburgh-area jazz band in the 50s and 60s.......
Note how people used to 'dress up' to go out in public.....
This is absolutely amazing. I do remember meeting Tom Henry at one point when I was working DND and living in Cranberry. I remember being so very impressed with Tom and the dealership and their incredibly impressive CSI Scores. I knew right away that General Motors / Chevrolet Motor Division had a 5 Diamond Dealership there in Bakerstown that was setting an exemplary standard for others to emulate. Tom was going to do what was right, no matter what was throw his way. - Ed Burns, Sat, 5 Aug 2023 11:07AM
Scott, I am always amazed at how on earth you remember all this stuff :) Great photos! (and a great start for that book.... uhm hint hint ;) - Kevin Kolvenbach, Thu, 23 Oct 2014 5:55AM
