Yoder’s, Reed’s, Shank, McCormick’s

Yoder’s:

Jonas and Moses Yoder built their garage in 1909 at the same time as Keller did at the corner of Main and Walnut Street. In 1918, they sold their business to Ira Heckaman. Moses went on to own the Yoder Bus and Cab Company after purchasing the bus line from William Martin of Milford. This was a bus and taxi service that connected Nappanee to other communities such as Wakarusa and Elkhart.

In 1909, J.W. Terwilliger and Hal Brown leased the entire second floor of the garage. They planned to have a roller rink on the second floor. They had 100 pairs of skates to rent and a band that played live music every night. The price of admission was 10 and 15 cents to skate. Ladies were admitted for free and 15 cents to skate. The Yoders were agents in Jackson, Reo, and Metz Autos.

Reed’s:

Frank Reed moved into the building sometime in 1918. He had purchased a meat market and operated it for a time and then opened up a livery stable and later took on the Buick Agency in Nappanee.

In 1931, the back part of the garage was leased to Adams and Reed and was opened as a repair shop. They were giving cars “first-aid”. There were bowling alley lanes installed on the 2nd floor in 1935. For many years, Mr. Reed’s son Babe was the manager.

Skank:

Frank Reed sold the business to Ray Shank in 1950. Mr. Shank started in Wakarusa with Smith Chevrolet for 12 years. He operated the Goshen Auto Electric and handled auto parts and supplies there. For 2 years, before coming to Nappanee, he worked for I.A. Miller, Inc in Goshen.

McCormick’s:

Ray Shank sold all of the physical assets of Ray Shank Motors to Gordon (Short) McCormick in December 1953. McCormick’s was the first Chevrolet dealer in Nappanee. Short McCormick was the owner until his death in 1998.

McCormick’s was only in this location until 1958. After McCormick’s left the building was the US Army National Guard, Fairchild Printing, an antique store, a warehouse, and a flooring studio.

The building burned down in 2008.