"The Shop"
"The Shop" is what we called our family's place of business. Its original name was Grau Company, an automobile and farm implement dealership owned by Clarence Grau of Le Mars. Arnold Coppock began selling cars and tractors there in 1932. Originally located in the downtown area, it was moved to a corner location on Highway 75 in 1940. Ashton Coppock joined his Dad in the business in 1946 as an auto mechanic and salesman after returning from World War II. Clyde was then working as an auto parts salesman for United Wholesalers, a Sioux City company.
In 1948, Clarence offered to sell the business and the buildings to our family. The deal was finalized on November 15, 1948. Arnold became the general manager, Ashton was in charge of the service department, and Clyde was the salesman.
Shown above: a metallic measuring tape used as a customer giveaway (Circa 1950)
Part I: "The Duppa-Duh"
You're right, there is no such word. It refers to a 1947 Hudson pickup that Grandpa always drove in the late 1940's. When I was real little, I couldn't pronounce pickup; hence, the above term that was sometimes used by family members to tease me. Anyway, prior to my going to school, I used to go with Grandpa in the pickup to deliver bottled gas to farmers. (no natural gas then, kids, especially in rural areas!) Anyway, I loved going with him.
So, once I started to school, he had the great idea to sometimes drive by the playground at recess time to see if he could spot me playing in the schoolyard. I had other ideas!! I thought he was coming by to pick me up so that we could deliver bottled gas that day. I would tear across the yard, waving and yelling for him to stop. Well, that only went on for a day or so, when Mother received a call from the school, asking her to have that pickup stop driving by the school at recess time. I can't swear to it, but I have the feeling that both Grandpa and I were crushed by that development.
Part II: "The Oil Pit"
As a kid, I loved going to the shop. I enjoyed talking with the customers, the auto mechanics, and being with Grandpa behind the big front desk. I loved helping him put away auto parts, sweeping the showroom floor, wiping down the new cars, etc.
One day, I was excitedly talking with Herman Schultz, a farmer and a good customer. I was in the area where Vernon Grau, the tractor mechanic, worked on Allis Chalmers farm equipment. Well, unbeknownst to me, that was the day he was cleaning the large oil pit . Not paying attention to where I was walking, the next thing I knew, I was falling in to a deep hole filled with used tractor oil!!
Well, of course, this is where my memory sort of ends, and others' recollections kick in. Herman yelled to my Dad, reached down and was able to lift my head out of the gunk; by that time, my Dad had managed to grab my shoulders and pull me up further. Since Grandma and Grandpa only lived a few blocks away, Grandma was called and told to fill the bathtub with hot, soapy water. I was wrapped in a blanket, and I'll never forget how quickly that bathtub turned totally black. All of my clothes, including my shoes, went in the dumpster. Grandma later recalled filling that tub several times.
I'll end by saying that neighbors could probably hear Grandma yelling at "Pops" a mile away; and I'm sure that Vernon Grau never again cleaned the grease pit during working hours.
Part III: "A. J. Coppock & Sons
(Note: the pictures above were taken from a Le Mars Daily Sentinel article in the 1950's)
The partnership lasted from 1948 to 1960 when Arnold retired. For the most part, it provided a living for all three families. Of course, there were tensions like in any business; but we were a close family in many ways. Of course, Grandma Coppock could "rule the roost", much to the chagrin of Mother and Aunt Dorothy at times. In fact, that reminds me of what will be my last story today.
For many years, the Allis Chalmers Company would send its dealers fresh fruit during the holiday season. Dorothy and Ashton had a large basement that was naturally cool in the winter. so the fruit was kept there until the family get-together before Christmas. Unfortunately for Dorothy, one year's fresh fruit turned out to be frozen turkeys!!! Not only did their basement smell to high heaven when the turkeys were discovered, Grandma Coppock pitched a fit to anyone who would listen. Not only that, she just wouldn't let it go until Grandpa said, "Enough, Ethel! It's over." Later, everyone had a good laugh; but it certainly wasn't funny to poor Aunt Dorothy.
Back to the business, Grandpa retired in 1960. Ashton was hired as a service manager for an auto dealership in Denver in 1963, and Dad passed away in March 1965. Grandpa tried to rejuvenate it, but it went out of business a year or so later. By that time, the firm was selling just Rambler cars, and American Motors was struggling.
Still, there are lots of fond memories and good times!!! I hope you've enjoyed this "blast from my past".
DAC
5/1/2020
In 1948, Clarence offered to sell the business and the buildings to our family. The deal was finalized on November 15, 1948. Arnold became the general manager, Ashton was in charge of the service department, and Clyde was the salesman.
Shown above: a metallic measuring tape used as a customer giveaway (Circa 1950)
Part I: "The Duppa-Duh"
You're right, there is no such word. It refers to a 1947 Hudson pickup that Grandpa always drove in the late 1940's. When I was real little, I couldn't pronounce pickup; hence, the above term that was sometimes used by family members to tease me. Anyway, prior to my going to school, I used to go with Grandpa in the pickup to deliver bottled gas to farmers. (no natural gas then, kids, especially in rural areas!) Anyway, I loved going with him.
So, once I started to school, he had the great idea to sometimes drive by the playground at recess time to see if he could spot me playing in the schoolyard. I had other ideas!! I thought he was coming by to pick me up so that we could deliver bottled gas that day. I would tear across the yard, waving and yelling for him to stop. Well, that only went on for a day or so, when Mother received a call from the school, asking her to have that pickup stop driving by the school at recess time. I can't swear to it, but I have the feeling that both Grandpa and I were crushed by that development.
Part II: "The Oil Pit"
As a kid, I loved going to the shop. I enjoyed talking with the customers, the auto mechanics, and being with Grandpa behind the big front desk. I loved helping him put away auto parts, sweeping the showroom floor, wiping down the new cars, etc.
One day, I was excitedly talking with Herman Schultz, a farmer and a good customer. I was in the area where Vernon Grau, the tractor mechanic, worked on Allis Chalmers farm equipment. Well, unbeknownst to me, that was the day he was cleaning the large oil pit . Not paying attention to where I was walking, the next thing I knew, I was falling in to a deep hole filled with used tractor oil!!
Well, of course, this is where my memory sort of ends, and others' recollections kick in. Herman yelled to my Dad, reached down and was able to lift my head out of the gunk; by that time, my Dad had managed to grab my shoulders and pull me up further. Since Grandma and Grandpa only lived a few blocks away, Grandma was called and told to fill the bathtub with hot, soapy water. I was wrapped in a blanket, and I'll never forget how quickly that bathtub turned totally black. All of my clothes, including my shoes, went in the dumpster. Grandma later recalled filling that tub several times.
I'll end by saying that neighbors could probably hear Grandma yelling at "Pops" a mile away; and I'm sure that Vernon Grau never again cleaned the grease pit during working hours.
Part III: "A. J. Coppock & Sons
(Note: the pictures above were taken from a Le Mars Daily Sentinel article in the 1950's)
The partnership lasted from 1948 to 1960 when Arnold retired. For the most part, it provided a living for all three families. Of course, there were tensions like in any business; but we were a close family in many ways. Of course, Grandma Coppock could "rule the roost", much to the chagrin of Mother and Aunt Dorothy at times. In fact, that reminds me of what will be my last story today.
For many years, the Allis Chalmers Company would send its dealers fresh fruit during the holiday season. Dorothy and Ashton had a large basement that was naturally cool in the winter. so the fruit was kept there until the family get-together before Christmas. Unfortunately for Dorothy, one year's fresh fruit turned out to be frozen turkeys!!! Not only did their basement smell to high heaven when the turkeys were discovered, Grandma Coppock pitched a fit to anyone who would listen. Not only that, she just wouldn't let it go until Grandpa said, "Enough, Ethel! It's over." Later, everyone had a good laugh; but it certainly wasn't funny to poor Aunt Dorothy.
Back to the business, Grandpa retired in 1960. Ashton was hired as a service manager for an auto dealership in Denver in 1963, and Dad passed away in March 1965. Grandpa tried to rejuvenate it, but it went out of business a year or so later. By that time, the firm was selling just Rambler cars, and American Motors was struggling.
Still, there are lots of fond memories and good times!!! I hope you've enjoyed this "blast from my past".
DAC
5/1/2020
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