A Simpler Time When Residents Bought Cars Just a Few Blocks From Home

In March 1920, Western Springs' local newspaper announced that the village's 1,258 residents would soon "have a garage, and to the hundred-odd auto owners in the village a garage will be appreciated.” 

The article identified the new establishment as the Wolf Road Garage, which would be located on the northwest corner of Wolf and Hillgrove Avenue. The article also mentioned that, while Wolf Road was not yet paved, “in time it will be a popular thoroughfare.”

According to records at the Western Springs Historical Society, the garage subsequently became an authorized dealer for Franklin, Chalmers, Hupmobile, and Maxwell cars, as well as International trucks. The business was then renamed Wolf Road Motor Sales.

In 1927, the business was sold to two brothers, Leroy and Francis Glasner, who added the popular Studebaker line of cars.  Shown above are various Glasner Brothers advertisements from 1928 and 1929 (just click on each picture to enlarge it).  Also, note the dealer’s local phone number: Western Springs 866.

While the Great Depression loomed just around the corner, the village's population had grown to nearly 3,900 by 1929. As a result, automobiles were still selling quite well in the village. 

As shown in the one ad, a top-of-the-line seven-passenger Studebaker President model was "just" $1,995, while the smaller Dictator Six sedan was a "mere" $1,095. But, keep in mind that 71% of Americans still earned less than $2,500 in 1929!