Fleck Pontiac Building

Fleck Pontiac Dealership to Occupy Pritchard Building. Niles Daily Times December 10, 1942. Two of the biggest real estate deals to be consummated in Niles in the past two years, were announced today. They were: The purchase of the garage building and lot at 148 North Main Street, occupied by the Fleck Pontiac Company by the Burnside Heating Company and the purchase of the Pritchard Motors Building and lot at 319 Robbins Avenue by the Fleck Pontiac Company.

Pritchard Building, new location of Fleck Pontiac Dealership at 319 Robbins Avenue	John Burnside is the proprietor of the Burnside Heating Company and Ernest Fleck is the owner of the Fleck Pontiac Company. The Fleck Pontiac Company also purchased the entire stock and equipment of Pritchard Motors. The Pontiac garage was purchased from the Niles Bank Company and the Pritchard Motors Garage from Allen E. Pritchard. Burnside announced that he hoped to move his business from the present location at 51 East State Street to the Main Street location about January 1st. Fleck stated that “he was now doing business at both locations, but expected to be entirely moved to the Pritchard Garage building by the latter part of this week”.

Burnside Heating’s new business location in this building at 148 North Main Street.	Pritchard Motors was the oldest automobile sales and service business in Niles, having started business November 15, 1923. Established originally as Williams and Pritchard, they occupied the Williams Block on South Main Street and they also maintained a branch office in Girard for many years. Allen Pritchard bought out his partner’s share of the business in 1928, after which Pritchard built the present building in 1929 and moved to that location. Pritchard maintained Dodge sales and service and when the Plymouth car was put on the market in 1928, he added it to his line. When Pritchard was asked about his plans for the future, he replied that “they are indefinite”.

The Burnside Heating Company, too has been established for 19 years. For many years, Burnside operated the business from his home which for many years was on Beaver Street. Six years ago, his business was moved to 51 East State Street. Three and a half years ago, John Burnside’s son, Walter, entered the firm, upon completion of his college education, which included engineering and heating courses at Miami University, Michigan State University and Youngstown College. The present Pontiac Garage will be remodeled considerably to conform to the needs of the Burnside Heating Company. The present display room will continue to be used as a display room. The center section of the building will be used as a shop and a mezzanine floor will be installed for storage of stock and materials. The rear room will be used for storage of trucks and other equipment. “I have just purchased considerably more equipment to enlarge our sheet metal department”, John Burnside stated. “It is our intention to have the best and most effective equipment for complete engineering facilities for domestic and industrial sheet metal heating and ventilation services. Fleck Pontiac is the most recent entry into the local automobile field. The firm started September 1940 with the purchase of the business from Charles Stiver, a local Chevrolet dealer. Ernest Fleck, proprietor, stated that all his present automobile equipment will be moved to the new location where it will be added to that purchased from Pritchard Motors. The combined equipment, Fleck stated will give his service department a most completely equipment plant specializing not only for Pontiacs but also Dodge and Plymouth. Service facilities will be greatly enlarged Fleck said inasmuch as the new service department will have a space 100 feet by 50 feet, more than double the present area. In addition, the building is the ‘last word in an automobile garage. Fleck commented, “Electrically operated doors and automatic heat are but of the few of the many modern facilities in the new building. Direct entrance from Robbins Avenue is also provided.

The home on the left, 1119 Robbins Avenue was built by Mr. and Mrs. Allen Pritchard.	The house on the right, 1117 Robbins Avenue was built by Mr. and Mrs. William Pritchard in 1922.	2024 view of 1119 Robbins Avenue.

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