Martin Chevrolet Co.
404 Denver Avenue
Saguache, Colorado
"A large brick building at the corner of 4th (Main St.) and Denver Ave. was built as a garage for Charlie Coleman. I am not sure of the year it was constructed, but Mr. Coleman had the dealership for Model T Fords, so that tells me it was before 1928 when Henry Ford started making Model A’s.
Charlie Coleman sold the business to L.W. (Luther) Gross who also had the Ford dealership for many years. L.W. Gross Garage, at one time, was one of the town’s largest employers. Three or four mechanics worked fulltime along with someone to repair tires and pump gas. Another crew kept busy hauling coal from Gunnison or Crested Butte and making deliveries in this area.
When L.W. Gross retired, Orval Martin bought the business and it became “Martin Chev. Co.” along with the Chev. dealership, Martins also sold Jeeps. Their head mechanic, Charlie Jenkins, was a government
approved instructor, and taught several veterans under the G.I. Bill.
Several years ago, the partnership of Dale Hazard and Scott Alexander started “Omega Cable” at this location. Since Dale has returned to fulltime ranching, Scott and his family have expanded to include a fitness center and tanning salon.
Lots of changes since this was the place you went to buy a Model T!"
While no years are specified for the time frame when Jeeps were sold, references to veterans and the GI Bill would most likely place this in the immediate Post WW2 era.