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During the recent months of the current economic crisis, many car dealers have had to close their doors. One dealership that has weathered this and many other tough financial markets is also the nation’s longest-standing family-owned vehicle retailer, W. Hare & Son. From the era of Conestoga wagons to current and hybrid cars, this Indiana-based dealership has survived more than a century and a half of the ups and downs of continuous operation.
The saga began in 1847 when Wesley Hare began building wagons, carriages and buggies from his log cabin in Noblesville, Indiana. Their primary market was the steady stream of Americans heading west from California to pan for gold. All of their vehicles came with a one year warranty on their axles, wheels and springs.
The rabbit business was booming. In no time, he added 45 employees and amassed a small fortune.
Shortly after the Civil War ended in 1865, Hare’s son EM took over the business and the company was officially renamed W.H. Hare and Son became. Operations were completed in a four-story building with an elevator, a rarity for the time. Eventually the business churned out about 700 buggies annually.
Near the end of the century, however, EM realized that the “horseless carriage” might have a future. Against the advice of his employees, Hare signed contracts with Hupmobile, Studebaker, and Cadillac to sell some of these motorized buggies. By 1912, these automobiles comprised the majority of his business.
Six generations of Horse would eventually manage the dealership. Each manager had his or her own unique business challenges. For example, during the Great Depression, the dealer had to rely on its towing service to divert the bottom line. When manufacturers ceased all automobile production during World War II, Hare had no cars to sell for three and a half years. A lube job and tune-up fill the gap.
Today, visitors to the Hare showroom can see a bit of the company’s history. The walls display a 90-foot-long mural depicting the journey. Also, the showroom has two green buggies built in the 1870s.
The current managers, Courtney Cole and Monica Peck, great-great-great granddaughters of Wesley Hare, have to keep up with current marketing trends. Hare currently offers 50 service stalls, a photo booth for online ads, and approximately 1,000 new Chevrolets in the sales lot. They sell around 300 cars per month and employ 150 people.
Whatever the future holds, his place in history is secure. They lead a list compiled by the National Association of Automobile Dealers of US dealers that have been in continuous business for 100 years or more. The top ten of the list include:
1847, w. Hare & Son, Inc., Noblesville, Indiana
1852, Schaefer & Bierlein, Inc., Frankenmuth, Michigan
1859, Reynolds Garage & Marine, Inc., Lyme, Connecticut
1875, Kemman Chevrolet, Inc., Loden, Iowa
1875, Normandine Chrysler/Jeep, San Jose, California
1885, Moser Motor Sales, Inc., Berne, Indiana
1895, Furman Motor Car Co., Inc., Tampa, Florida
1897, Hill International Trucks, LLC, East Liverpool, Ohio
1898, Eich Motor Company, St. Cloud, Minnesota
1900, Diehl Ford, Inc., Bellingham, Washington
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