Memory Lane #3

DOWN ROYERSFORDS' MEMORY LANE TO... HORNING'S CHEVROLET

This is the third look back at the "Little Men & Women" that continued to build Royersford during the 50's and 60's. It is not a fact filled history lesson but just a nostalgic look back with a personal touch. Comments and even corrections to my waning memory are welcome!

The late 1950's and on through the 1960's were my pre-teen and teenage years. It was also a time when the big three automobile manufactures kept things interesting by making major design changes to their vehicles every year. This made for an exciting event each September.

Early Fall was the normal time for General Motors, Chrysler and Ford to introduce their new line of vehicles. There were three Car Dealerships in Royersford. I do not recall much about one called Gerges' Motor Service located at Third Avenue and Green Street but a little research shows them as a Lincoln and Mercury dealer. Tyson Motor Company, offering Chrysler and Plymouth vehicles, was located at Seventh Avenue and Walnut Street. Horning Chevrolet was on Main and Lewis. HORNING's CHEVROLET knew just how to take advantage of this event to get the attention of residents in the area.

The start of the school year also, for many of us, meant the new cars were coming. Attending grade school at Sacred Heart provided a perfect opportunity to see Mr. Horning's extravaganza. Sacred Heart School was just a short block away from his parked display and showroom. Each year he would apparently gather his staff and maybe others and proceed to show the town the newest offerings from Chevrolet. It was a parade of sorts as his motorcade slowly drove thru town with horns beeping and drivers waving.  It was impossible not to notice. Standing on the corner of Walnut Street and Lewis Road, while executing the duties of a Safety Patrol Crossing Guard, gave me a front row seat as the entourage pasted by. Although my young age prohibited any chance of driving a car, the sight of the new Imapla, BelAir and Biscayne gave my peers and I a thrill beyond belief. There is no doubt that this show also instilled the buying public to "See the USA in a Chevrolet". Dinah Shore did a great job with that tune and here is a link to the words:

  http://www.vintagechevrolet.org/articles/VCO_2001019_dinahshore.htm

Today's automobiles seem to have many of the same design characteristics and only a few get a second glance from me. Back then there were unmistakable features that would identify a car from blocks away (at least for our young eyes with 20/20 vision). I could pick out the make and model of any car as it came down Main Street. The sound of a Plymouth Super Bee was purely unmistakable. A Ford Galaxie 500 had a look all it's own. The approach of a Chevrolet Chevelle SS-396 held your undivided attention as it pasted and the driver would work the throttle and get some rubber at Forth Avenue and Main. I think the Plymouth Road Runner had a special place in my young heart.

Horning's Chevrolet remained in business for many years after that. The original building was recently torn down but the empty lot at the corner of Main and Lewis Roads still holds the ghost of these wonderful memories.

Thanks for following MEMORY LANE and remember, as someone once said, "I remember things even if they didn't really happen!"