Ward Fenimore's Chevrolet Dealership and Gas Station at the Junction of Hanna and Highway 30

Ward Fenimore's Chevrolet Dealership and Gas Station in Elmo and at the Junction of Hanna and Highway 30

Page by Bob Leathers with contributions by Gary Milliken

Fenimore Chevrolet got its start in Elmo, Wyoming.

1920's

Elmo Garage Company (Gert Milliken Collection from Gary Milliken)

Andy Ruskanen, Elmo Garage Company

"I would to take this opportunity to clarify the actual beginnings of the firm which eventually became known as Fenimore Chevrolet. The business was started by my father, Andrew Ruskanen, in partnership with several friends and associates, in 1920. My father constructed the garage building on this is now designated as "No Name" street. The Carbon County Redi-Mix now occupies the site and probably utilizes the original concrete floor of the garage building. My father held the franchise or dealership for the Overland "Redbird' automobile and was also the dealer for the "Hubmobile" automobile. The Overland "Redbird" was manufactured by the Willis Knight Motor Company, which eventually evolved into what is known as American Motors Company today. The firm founded by my father and his associates was known as the "Elmo Garage Company" and was located just north of the Workingmen's Commercial Company store and south of the two story house occupied by the Gus Siltamaki family. My father also constructed a house in Elmo, which was located next door to the home now occupied by the Fenimores. He [Andrew Ruskanen] was employed by the Union Pacific Coal Company and continued in their employ while building the "Elmo Garage" with the view in mind that he would eventually give up his mining job and concentrate on making a livelihood operating the garage business. However this was never realized as my father was fatally injured in a mine accident in the Union Pacific Coal Company No. 4 mine on April 4, 1925. Subsequently, the "Elmo Garage Company", was managed by individuals chosen by my mother and other partners in the venture. Among these were Pat Russell and Bill Christensen. Eventually the business was taken over by Arthur Allen, when he disposed of his meat market building on Front Street, in Elmo, directly across the street from the bar now operated by the Jim Poulos family. Mr. Allen operated the garage until about 1934 when he sold out to build the motel and store complex, known as the "Silver Cabins" at a site located on Highway 30 when it was routed through Elmo and Hanna."(Andy Ruskanen, Elmo Garage Company, Hanna Herald, Mar. 30, 1983)

1949

Fenimore Chevrolet. 1949. (Hanna Mimer. 1949)

1950 - 1951

In the early 1950's Ward Fenimore moved his business from Elmo to the Junction of Hanna and Highway 30.

Ward Fenimore's business also became the Greyhound bus stop when Highway 30 was moved out of Hanna in the early 1950's. Before the highway change, the bus stop was located at Love's Amusement Center in Hanna.

Ward Fenimore relocated his car business from Elmo to the junction of highway 30 in the early 1950's.

In 1950-51, the 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)

Fenimore Chevrolet on Highway 30. 1961. (1961 Hanna Miner)

The picture below was taken of Gert Milliken in front of Ward Fenimore's Chevrolet dealership and gas station in April of 1961. In the background is Marion Clegg's Eat-a-Bite Cafe. Both businesses were located at the Junction of Hanna and Highway 30.

Gert Milliken at Ward Fenimore's Gas Station and the Eat-a-Bite Cafe at the Junction of Hanna and Highway 30, April 1961. (Gert Milliken Collection from Gary Milliken)

1962

Fenimore Chevrolet. Ward Fenimore Proprieter. Highway 30. (The Pioneer, Jan. 1962)

1972