In an undated photo, Ernest “Wad” Humphrey stands in front of the garage he opened in 1924 on Main Road in Granville. The current owner of the garage is having a celebration and open house on Sept. 14 to mark 100 years in business.
Reminder Publishing submitted photo
GRANVILLE — It’s been 100 years since Ernest “Wad” Humphrey started working on cars and trucks in town, and to celebrate the centennial anniversary of the business, its current owner Doug Jordan and his family are having an open house and a “not retiring, yet party.”
“Well, today he did say he might retire,” Dustin Jordan, Doug’s son, said last week with a chuckle about a knuckle-busting repair his dad was working on that day.
But all those frustrating repairs will be forgotten on Saturday, Sept. 14, when the Jordans will open their doors for the celebration and party.
“We’re looking forward to spending time with our friends and thanking our customers during the open house,” said Dustin, who operates the business with his father at 425 Main Rd., Granville.
The fun starts at 10 a.m. with coffee and conversation with Doug, Dustin and Patti, Dustin’s wife.
In addition to the coffee klatsch, the Jordans will run a couple of fun contests to get their friends and customers involved.
They will be awarding T-shirts to anyone who brings to the celebration their oldest receipt or repair order from Humphrey’s or a competitor, the oldest and best photograph of the business and the garage’s oldest calendar.
Dustin said he knows that finding old receipts, photographs and calendars might seem challenging, but he said a lot of folks in town like to hoard stuff, adding that all the items will be photographed and returned to their owners.
“We’re sure there are few folks who can find those things in their attic,” he said with a laugh.
There will also be music and line dancing with the Granby-based Stompin’ Boots, he said.
The family is also hosting a lunch during the open house, starting at 1 p.m., featuring pork barbecue, hamburgers and hot dogs and all the trimmings, Dustin said.
He said a few volunteers are helping with the lunch so the family can enjoy time with their friends.
According to Doug, in 1924, “Wad” Humphrey opened his garage in his parents’ barn, which was two houses over from its current location, which was a former farmers’ coop. Humphrey ran the business until 1966, when it was taken over by Robert Alden.
Alden ran the garage until 1995, and during his tenure added a large metal building to the back of the original structure. Alden sold the business to the Jordans in 1995 but continued to work there part-time for another seven years.
Doug began working at the garage in 1973, before taking over in 1996. In 2003, he replaced the original front building with a new metal structure with a block front, while trying to keep the original appearance.
His son began working at the garage while he was a high schooler, 26 years ago.
“He tells me I can retire when he does,” Dustin told his dad about the future.
Doug’s oldest son, Jason, worked at the garage for a couple years after school and summers, but “he moved on to bigger and better things — smart man — but not until Dustin could take over,” Doug wrote.
He also thanked a “dozen or so” other mechanics that worked there during its 100 years.
When Alden was running the shop, his wife, Marianne, did all the office work. That made her a bookkeeper, secretary, janitor, parts chaser, chauffeur, mediator and homemaker.
“I must mention that Bob and Marianne treated my wife Judy and I like family. It was a pleasure knowing them,” Doug wrote.
“When I took over, or I should say when Judy and I took over, Judy ended up with all Marianne’s titles,” he wrote.
Judy Jordan died in 2019 in a tragic accident, and her husband has passed on her responsibilities to Dustin’s wife, Patti.
“[It] only makes sense Dustin and Patti will be the next chapter of Humphrey’s Garage. [They’re] a very capable couple for the job,” he wrote.
“Of course, that’s only if I ever retire.”
