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Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Anderson Chevrolet Dealership


Before Anderson Motor Company was on Roswell Street it was here, on the first block of Powder Springs Street from the Square.

The owner James T. Anderson was a sincere humble man who didn’t mind doing some dirty greasy work. If you dealt with Anderson Motors much you probably would see James in work coveralls with the Chevrolet emblem more than you would see him in a shirt and tie.

I don't know when Chief Williams was chief of the Marietta Police Force. I know it was before my father, who was chief in the late 40s and early 50s.

Noticed up the side of the building you see two levels. The bottom level would be in the future Atherton Drugstore. Atherton Drug Store had a gas leak and blew up killing and injuring a number of people Halloween night in 1964. Because of the explosion the second level is no longer there.

My father bought our first family car, a Chevrolet, at Anderson’s.

It did not have a radio. I don’t think Daddy ever had a car with a radio. To him, it was an unnecessary expense, a distraction, and pretentious.

Anderson Chevrolet has ran its course. With Marietta and Atlanta just minutes away with the new expressways dozens of Chevrolet dealers materialized and the small town car dealerships could not compete with the fast talking dealers making fools of themselves in TV commercials. Or, that is what I think, anyway.

Now, some of the big dealerships are crumbling. Bill Heard Chevrolet for instance – but I think that might had something to do with “creative financing” with GMA Finance Company holding the bag… or not holding the bag.

5 comments:

  1. We are doing a project on the roswell street location of the Anderson motor company. What can you tell us about the propertys past and its owners through time. Also what made them relocate. How does an entier floor go away leaving the lower story useable.

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  2. KMHS,
    Is this Kent?

    I know nothing about the history of the property Anderson Motors were at on Roswell Street, except the street number, which I think was either 900 or 990.

    I know my uncle Bill McLemore worked there in the parts department. And I know Dodd Street ran along beside it, went by the Millwood property, which was almost across from the board of education off before in went on in the Pine Forest Apartments. I think the Mlllwoods' property in the back was adjacent to the Anderson Chevvy side.

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  3. Thank you. This not Kent this is a group of researchers for a project. Do you know any history about the old building other then the ones covered in the post. Also do you know anyone eles that we could contact in order to find out about the 900 Roswell street location or the location on Powder Springs. Once more, thank you.

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  4. KMHS,
    I would contact Dr. Kent Anderson Lesley or her brother Tate Anderson. Their father owned Anderson Chevrolet Company. In the Marietta phone book there is a Tate Anderson, Jr., listed which I am sure is Tate's son. Tate's father was James T. Anderson, so would not be a Junior.

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  5. How would we get into contact with one of these people. None of us live in Marietta and calling numbers found online yields wrong numbers indeed. A phone number or e-mail address would help greatly. Thank you very much.

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