In 1922, the “Automobile Directory” in the Riverside Enterprise listed 11 car dealerships in Riverside, selling 18 brands. All the dealerships were located in downtown, many on or near Eighth Street, now named University Avenue. Some of the car brands we recognize today, but others aren’t so familiar.

On Eighth Street was Brainard Motor Company, the Riverside County distributer of Buicks. The Buick brand is now part of General Motors and is one of the oldest automobile brands in the world and the oldest still active in the United States.

At Eighth and Fairmount was the F. L. Smale dealership, which sold Cadillac and Oakland cars. The Cadillac brand was created in 1902 and sold to General Motors in 1909. It was considered a premier luxury brand almost from the beginning. The Oakland, on the other hand, was a modestly priced car, also a part of General Motors until it was phased out in 1931.

The Keystone Garage was at Seventh and Fairmount. It sold Chandler and Cleveland cars. The Chandler Motor Car Company formed in 1913. By 1922 it had a line of 10 models, priced to appeal to middle class Americans. The Cleveland was also produced by Chandler, beginning in the 1920s, and was lower in price than Chandler models.

On Eighth Street, the Stutt Brothers were dealers of Dodge Brothers cars. The Dodge Brothers began manufacturing cars in 1914. The brothers both died in 1920 and the car company they founded was sold first in 1925, then again in 1928, when it was sold to Chrysler.

The Parker-Johnson Co. was located at Eighth and Lime, and advertised as “Ford Corner.” It was the authorized Ford Dealership in Riverside. Fordson tractors also were sold there. Ford dropped the “Fordson” name in 1964, branding its tractors from then on as just Fords.

J.W. Kemp, also at Eighth and Lime, sold Franklin and Nash cars. The Franklin Automobile Company sold cars in the United States from 1902, until its financial collapse in 1934. It had an air-cooled engine and was primarily wood framed until 1928. The Nash was a product of Nash Motors, with the first Nash car produced in 1917. It was focused on building cars at a good price point that would appeal to a wide market.

Riverside Motor Sales Co. sold Hudson and Essex cars. The Hudson Motor Car Company produced its first car in 1909. By the 1920s, it was producing both Hudson and Essex branded cars. At its peak in 1929, a combined total of 300,000 Hudsons and Essexes were produced worldwide.

Grace Motor Car Company, on Main Street, sold Maxwell and Liberty cars. The Maxwell Motor Company began in 1904 and was initially considered quite successful. However, in the recession following World War I, in 1920, much of its inventory remained unsold. In stepped Walter Chrysler, who took a controlling interest in the company. Chrysler formed his own company in 1925. The Maxwell brand was discontinued and its assets absorbed by Chrysler. Meanwhile, the Liberty Motor Car Company lasted only from 1916 to 1923. It offered only one model called the Liberty Six.

Theodore Crossley sold Mitchell and Packard automobiles at Eleventh and Main. The Mitchell Motor Car Company manufactured cars from 1903 to 1923, when it became a victim of the Great Depression. The Packard Motor Car Company began producing luxury vehicles in 1899, continuing until 1958. At the time, owning a Packard was considered very prestigious.

P.Z. Fogle sold Oldsmobiles on Eighth Street. The Olds Motor Works company began producing gas powered cars in 1897. It was purchased by General Motors in 1908. While originally called Olds automobiles, the public called them Oldsmobiles, a name later adopted for the brand.

The Glenwood Mission Garage, managed by C.A. Dundas, sold Studebakers.  Originally a wagon company, Studebaker began manufacturing automobiles in 1902. Studebaker had a long reputation for quality and reliability, including during the 1920s.

If you have an idea for a future Back in the Day column about a local historic person, place or event, contact Steve Lech and Kim Jarrell Johnson at [email protected].