Elmo Garage and Ray LaFForge's Hanna Service Station
At the Junction of Hanna and Highway 30
Page by Bob Leathers with Contributions from Randy Shipman and Gary Milliken
Harry Sorenson built, owned and operated the Elmo Garage.
1946 - 1952: By 1946 Ray and Louis Lefforge owned and operated the Elmo Garage.
Ray and Louie LaFForge bought the Elmo Garage and Dodge / Plymouth automobile dealership from Harry Sorenson.
Mr Fagerholm was never associated with the Elmo Garage Company in any capacity. However, he was the builder and Owner of the firm known as the "Service Garage," located on front St. adjacent to the building occupied by the original "Nugget Bar". Both of these buildings are still there in their original locations. I do not remember Mr. Fagerholm having a Studebaker Franchise, but I do know that he held the dealership for the "Hudson" and "Essex" automobiles for years. Mr. Fagerholm eventually sold his business to Harry Sorenson, who had been associated with him as a service mechanic. Mr. Sorenson then moved the business to a new log building, further east on Front Street, adjacent to the home occupied by Rob an Gert Milliken. If my memory serves me correctly, Mr. Sorenson was the dealer for the Dodge and Plymouth line of automobiles. Mr. Sornson later sold out to Louie and Ray Laforge and left to pursue business interest in Colorado. (Andy Rusekanen, Hanna Herald, Mar. 30, 1983)
Elmo Garage. 1965. (Gert Milliken Collection from Gary Milliken)
Elmo Garage. 1965. (Gert Milliken Collection from Gary Milliken)
1946
Lefforge Motor Company. 1949. (Hanna Miner. 1946)
1949
Lefforge Motor Company. Elmo. 1949. (Hanna Miner. 1949)
Ray LaFForge relocated his automobile business from Elmo to the junction of highway 30 in the early 1950's and the car dealership to Rawlins.
1950-51: The Wyoming highway department relocated a short stretch of U.S. 30. The road was relocated from the center of town to a point about one mile south of the town’s edge. When U.S. 30 was realigned near Hanna, a few business owners relocated their enterprises to the new road just south of town. (Snow Chi Minh Trail - The History of Interstate 80 between Laramie and Walcott Junction by Richard Waggener)
Ray LaForage Gas Station at the Hanna Junction (1961 Hanna Miner)
Lefforge Motor Company. Ray Lefforge Proprieter. Hanna and Elmo. 1959. (The Pioneer. Dec. 1959)