Rochester NY historical pic and question

First the picture.....





Now the question: back when I was about 14 or 15 years old I started sweeping floors and stocking shelves for my dad in the parts room at Fred Walker Ford on Monroe Ave. This dealership was formally known as Archer Ford and had this cool neon sign above that was an archer shooting a neon arrow across the building. I distinctly remember someone telling me that the building was formally a Studebaker agency in the early days. I found this one and only pic on the Roch N.Y. online library website. Does anyone know if this is the front of what became Archer/Walker Ford on Monroe Ave? It sure looks familiar to me but I'm not sure. Can anyone help me?

 

Opps! I forgot to state that I know there are quite a few Rochester people on here so this question is obviously intended for them. The picture is cool though, huh? Sad part is I think the building is all gone. Leveled to make a parking lot for a nearby hospital. Shame

 

Hey Henry ! Yes the building is gone - parking lot now. It does look like it could be the building that later on was Fred Walker Ford. Great photo anyways ! Wish I could help you more.
Bernie

 

Where on Monroe was it?

 

Accross from Monroe H.S.

 

http://local.yahoo.com/details?id=3...HNWcgjkSOfESUZyx04T2_qerp3JTPW8Y4wmZWZ009IOrg--
you can zoom in the picture to see where the dealer used to be.You have to goto the aerial view, and goto interactive map.

 

The reason it's hard to tell is in the Ford era the building had a more modern look to it, but the hard points like the window frames etc. look right. If it is in fact the Walker Ford building you're looking at the site of my auto-formative years. I'm getting a little choked up. Pop p***ed away about two years ago and I have'nt come accross any more recent photos in any photo albums yet.

If any of you Rochestarians remember this place and the crew that worked there, you may remember my dad, Howie Thompson. God I miss him. If you came into the parts dept you got a square deal, and he along with his crew busted their ***es to help you out. A far cry from alot of the places you go ino today.

 

Thanks Rodnocker,TJM and Ford Freak. Never thought about online map either. Appreciate it!

 

Well Henry, I've looked and looked at the photo, and although I've driven by the Archer Ford/Fred Walker store a thousand times on my way over to Paul's Grocery where I worked, I just can't say that the Peck and Arnold Studebaker store is the same place. Back in the early to mid-fifties when I was visiting the Ford stores to get my stuff for my '40, I used to go to either Judges on Lake Ave. or F. A. Jones on Main Street. I'm sorry I never got to meet your old man. He would have definitely been my kind of parts guy!

As a thought, have you tried searching through records of old phone books as then you might be able to find the address for the Peck and Arnold store and relate that to the Archer/Walker store? Just a thought...

 

Henry,
I can't add much to the I.D, but you might be able to call (585.428.7300) or email the Rochester Public Library to ask for a street address for the Stude dealer and Archer/Walker Ford and see if they coincide. They used to provide a look-up service for info like that. Their website is:

http://www2.libraryweb.org/index.asp?orgid=51

You also might get a response from the Rochester Historical Society. Google for info.

I'm leaving tomorrow for a 10-day trip, but if you hit a dead end there, I have a couple of old hot rodders in the mid-70's I can ask when I get back. I'm pretty sure they would know. If not, I'll try to research it for you from here.
-Bob

 

I'm getting interested in this...........

I looked in a few old AAA Club mags I've collected, hoping to find an adverti*****t, but didn't have any luck. I did find a "Gallagher Studebaker" listed on Monroe Ave., as a displayer for the January 1931 Rochester Auto Show. Unfortunately, no street address was given. Since the Stude in the pic appears to be a early to mid-20's model, I'm ***uming that Peck & Arnold either sold the business to Gallagher prior to 1931 or lost it in the depression (1929).

In any event, it appears that you can email the local library and ask the question. I would try and narrow down the year of the car in the pic and then ask for a street address for P&A for that year. Here's the site you can follow to email the library..........

http://www2.libraryweb.org/orgMain.asp?storyid=1253&orgid=567

Let me know how you make out and, if you don't get what you need, let me know and I'll do a little 'hunting' from here after I get back from my trip.
-Bob

 

Cool! Thanks guys. TagMan I'll follow you suggestions and e-mail the library. I do remember that the street address for Walker Ford was 350 Monroe Ave.

BTW any of you guys remember Steve LeFrois and his gnarley `37 Ford `vert with the 427 Ford and a cross ram intake? I'll never forget the day he pulled up in front of the parts dept and rattled the windows with that monster. Love to see some pics of that car if anyone has them.

 

Holy Chit - Steve LaFrois! Now there's a name from out of the past - way out of the past!!! If you were a car guy in the Rochester area, you had to know Steve and his wild WILD black Cabriolet. That thing was so far ahead of the rest of the pack, it was just unbelievable. I used to see it all the time at his Sunoco station on the corner of ***us and Portland. I left a lot of slobber on that car, let me tell you.

Unfortunately, as I hear the story Steve got into drugs and, of course, the Cabriolet went rapidly down hill! The last I knew of the car, it was for sale on some used car lot out in Rush. The lot was owned by Jim Wemett, the guy that now owns ROC Communications. A pretty shady character in his own right, in my opinion. So, who knows what the connection there is there. I would really like to know where that car went as it was a just spot on perfect car - and this was back in the sixties!!!

Henry, thanks for the Rochester memories. I'm doing the snowbird gig now but, will be back home in March. Ahhhhhhh, memories - us old guys love them.

 

Back in the early 1970's I worked at Koerner Ford and made many trips to Fred Walker Ford to pick up parts. I remember your dad. I also remember a guy named John who talked like he was from the south. Steve Lefrois? The FORD nut? If it's the Steve I know he is still a Ford nut and lives on route 96 between Phelps and Clifton Springs.

 

I've lived in the Rochester area since the mid 1970's,I was mostly into Triumph motorcycles not cars.I did mess with Corvairs back then and bought parts at the Old Hallman's Art Deco styled dealership.
I'm in Ontario now,yeah,a 315 er.Where do you guys hang out? Been to the Log Cabin many times but not lately cause it got so crazy with cars .

 

I hope what you heard about Steve living out on Rte. 96 is true and that he is in good shape. He was one of the most innovative mechanics I ever saw. It would be nice to know that he is okay.

 

Steve is alive and well. I do a little machine work for him on occasion. Hey Henry, it came to me at work today, John's name was Johnny Robert Cagle. The LOG CABIN is one of the BEST cruises on the east coast! Truckedup, lotsa bikes there every week! I remember buying a new tailgate for my 1971 Longhorn C 30 chevy truck at Hallman Chevrolet for $99.00 back in 1976. In fact I remember seeing a brand new 1956 Chevy on a turntable in the showroom. I also remember being at NAGLE FORD and drooling all over a brand new 289 COBRA!!!! I still have a sales flyer with a salesman's stamp on it for a 427 COBRA!

 

WOW, I can't believe how many Rochester area guy's are on this board.
Zag: your showing your age with every post!!!
MATT SHAFF engine builder

 

Hate to steal the thread but, any of you ROC guys remember Cliff Crandall from out in Geneseo? How about Al Zainer(sp)

 

Matt, are you still down at proformance?

 

Matt, say "Hello" to Steve the Polish Guy the next time he stops in the shop!

Stevie G, who could forget Cliff and his wild SOHC monsters. I know the SOHC powered
'33 Ford fordor is still around. I ran into a salesman at a Ford agency who had bought the car and it was just sitting in his barn. Really didn't know what he had and wasn't real interested in doing anything with the car. So there it sits.

His daughter is married to Jim Mars, a local car nut who works the dyno, I believe, for Carl McQuillen. He builds some of the baddest motors around these parts, or anywhere else for that matter.

Hmmmmmm, Al Zainer - can't say that I remember him. Anyone?
there was an Al, and I can't remember his last name, that used to race a '40 Ford coupe with a SBC. Very fast car. He ran a service station out on Fairport Rd. Moved to California years ago. Maybe the same guy???

 

I don't know them, but I know someone that does as he has spoke of them in the past.

I grew up in Leicester, right next to Geneseo.

 

The only thing I can add about Archer Ford was seeing a '58 Starliner going down Monroe Av. with the top in halfway position, someone obviously was brining it back to the dealer to be fixed, as a side note, something like 100+ relays and swithes to move the top?

 

rodknocker: Yes Pro-Formance is at 1115 E. Main now for 19 years.
oldandkrursty: You can't find a better guy than Walczak .
Matt

 

Hey John.........When you coming back to the great white north??
Never did hear back from any of your friends at the G***er Gang.

What Matt did not add is that his Dad had a Shop near there.
We would sometimes go in with him on Saturdays. Walk over to the old Sears on Monroe to oogle tools and then to Fred Walker to oogle over cars.........

As far as our Heads up Drag Racing project. I have not heard back from Bob. Did talk to Donna a couple weeks ago. I will keep trying.

We need to get all us Rochester Hambers together at EMPIRE..ooops ...I mean NYIRP.

Matt....get back to work............

 

Luke, we'll be home the first week of March! Although the weather here has been spectacular down here, I'm definitely ready to come home!

As soon as I get back, I'll get in touch with Paul once again to see if he can't light a candle under someone's ****!

Did you hear that Bob has sold the track to someone else (Vince somebody) but, he will be running it for the next season of racing. Steve W. sent out the notice about a month ago.

Actually, there are a number of HAMBers that go to Empire (that is what it will always be to me) and race on Wednesday nights. Paul, although not a HAMBer as he doesn't even have a computer, I think) is always there with his BBC-powered Austin.

 

Steve is the BEST! Period! Tell him Norton said so.

 

From http://www.nyirp.com/News.htm#02-03-08%20 NYIRP sold

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LATEST NEWS AND UPDATES​

02-03-08 NYIRP sold??
Maybe. However, we are close to an agreement. While the list below does not include every aspect, you can see that there is not going to be a lot of changes for NYIRP in 2008. Vito and Sylvia are very enthusiastic and have some great ideas that will only benefit the racers and fans of Western New York. Racers, rest ***ured, that if an agreement is reached, that Vito's and my intentions will include the following:
1) Donna and I will be securing dates and producing the 2008 schedule.
2) Donna and I will work with Vito and Sylvia to make the transition as smooth as possible for everyone.
3) Vito will honor the Bob Buck$ that were awarded to the 2007 Champions.
4) The purse structure will be exactly the same as last year.
5) NYIRP will participate in the Summit Super Series.
6) NYIRP will remain an IHRA sanctioned Track.
7) All special programs ie: MOM's Racing, Bike & Sled Shootout, 10.90, 9.90, 8.90, Quick 8, G***ers, and the 1/8 Mile Nationals will remain on the schedule.
8) The cl***es & cl*** breaks will remain the same.
9) The "1320 Club" Points Program and Points Fund Payout will remain the same.
10) The Reserved Pit Spaces will be held by the previous space renters until April 1. The price will remain the same.
11) Friday nights will continue to be Test & Tune, and Wednesday nights will remain Grudge Racing and Fun Nights.

After 22 years of owning and operating New York Int'l Raceway Park, Donna and I have built some great relationships, not only with our dedicated employees and sponsors but also with hundreds of supportive racers and their families. I feel that everyone deserved to hear this from me first, but I have been denied that opportunity to be the one to tell everyone because some SOB in Buffalo felt the need to appoint himself spokesman in an arrangement that did not involve him in any way.
If Vito and I are able to reach an agreement, I ***ure you that I will let you know right away. But, please understand, that if an agreement is not reached by February 22 then I will retain ownership of the facility. Meanwhile, I am continuing to work on the schedule as usual, and want to ***ure you that NYIRP will be up and running in 2008.​

Bob Metcalfe​

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Hey Jim!,

I see down further you remembered Johnnie's last name was Cagle. Great guy he was. From Alabama if I recall correctly. We used to affectionately call him "rebel". I remember Koerner Ford, did a few inventories out there. Steve was a great mechanic/builder. I also remember his vicious `71 Boss 351 Mustang that sat lower and wider than any other I had ever seen. That guy was talented.

It is cool that there are so many Western New Yorkers on here, alot of good stuff came out of that area.

BTW the Rochester public library e-mailed me and said I was a bit off. Peck- Arnold Studebaker was located at 97-99 Monroe Ave. The place that later became Archer/Walker Ford at 350 Moroe Ave was earlier a Hupmobile agency. I'm gonna dig more to find names and pictures if I can.

 

Hi. I.ve been reading this post with some interest as I grew up outside Rochester in Henrietta. Left in 61 to join the Air Force . Anyone remember B&M speed shop on Townline Road or when they had stock car racing at the Monroe County Fairgrounds? Tom...