Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1920-03-11
MODERN GARAGE
TO Be ERECTED
{. Nj. Johnson, Veteran Ford
Dealer, Has Taken Gus
Thompson as Partner.
FIRM PURCHASES NEW SITE
New Structure to Be Started at Once
Will Be l6S Feet in Length by
80 Feet Wide.

Another good business deal has
been consumated in the business
section Of this city, which promises
to give Alma another fine business
block during the summer months, G..
NJ. Johnson and Gus Thompson, who
have just formed a partnership, hav-
ing purchased the Hugh McLaren
property on East Superior street,
where they will erect the most mod
ern Ford Garage to be found in this
part Of the state.
The partners have just recently Sc
cured possession of the property,
which has a frontage on Superior
street of $50 feet, and which has a
depth on Park avenue of 172 feet.
Plans for the construction of the
modern garage, to replace the pres
ent small quarters, have just been
announced.
The new garage will be 80 feet in
width, facing on Superior street, and
1913 feet in depth. 1t will be con-
structed of faced brick and will be
one story and basement in height.
Plans for the front of the building
call for a plate glass front, which
will be broken only by the entrance
to the Offices. Car entrances for the
Fords, will be on Park avenue The
first forty feet from Superior street
north on Park avenue, will have
plate glass, similar to the front
Numerous steel sashed windows will
make the garage healthful, light
place in which to labor.
The building will have about 49,
900 square feet Of floor space, which
will be divided into rooms for the
various needs Of the concern. The
parts room will be 80 by 40 feet, be-
ing large enough TO carry full stock
of parts for both Ford automobiles
and Fordson Tractors. The show
room will be 35 by 20 feet, and the
Offices will be the same size. The of
fees will be finished in mahogany.
The room for car repair will be 1lS
by 20 feet, being large enough to ac-
comodate fifteen automobiles at one
time for repair work. There will also
be an uptodate wash room and polish
i'iSf ANCHi III NieA VI hl tApNi -
There will also be rest rooms, ETC.,
for ladies', and for Ford owners,
which should prove highly popular
feature of the new garage. These
will be equipped with wicker furnit-
ure.
Mr.. Thompson, when asked as TO
an estimate of the cost of the struct-
cto fhaf - h.. hot
it would cost at least $4,000. He
also stated that the work would be
rushed just as rapidly as possible,
but that in view of the scarcity of
labor and some materials, that it
was not expected that the new ga
rage would be completed much before
August /.
Mr.. Gus Thompson, who becomes a
partner Of c. NJ. Johnson, the veteran
Alma Ford dealer, has been with the
Ford Motor Company of Detroit for
the past seven years, a greater part
Of which time has been spent on the
road in aiding Ford agents in plann-
ing and erecting new garages, and in
planning eXtention of their business.
He comes to Alma highly recon-
mended, and Mr. Johnson believes
that he will prove a remarkably cap
able partner.
Owing to poor health, Mr.. Johnson
expects to take several months va
cation as soon as Mr. Thompson be-
comes accustomed to the local ga
rage, and its patrons, having had
little opportunity to secure needful
rest during the time that he has had
charge of the Ford garage here un-
der his sole ownership.