Auto Dealerships

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Cars in La Crosse: A Checklist of Automobile Dealers in La Crosse, Wisconsin from 1907 to 1980 / Compiled by Kathryn Beane and Linda Sondreal; Edwin L. Hill, General Editor, 1985.

HOFWEBER, JOHN L.
Address: 101-109 Main Street (1916-1964).
Name of owner: Hofweber, John L.
Make of car: Oakland (1916-1924); Packard (1923-1936);
Nash (1926-1928; 1935-1957); Ajax (1926); Graham
(1932); LaFayette (1937-1939); Rambler (1958-1963).
~~~John was a son of Peter and his sisters were Dorothy Hofweber that married Romy Hammes and Rose Hofweber that married Harry Raper.

HOFWEBER, P. & SONS
Address: 127 Mill (1909); 113 Main (1911-1926).
Name of owner: Hofweber, Peter; Hofweber, Peter Jr.;
Hofweber, August.
Make of car: Ford (1909-1915); Hupmobile (1916).
~~~Peter was the father of Dorothy Hofweber that married Romy Hammes and Rose Hofweber that married Harry Raper.

RAPER GARAGE
Address: 119 S. 5th Street (1923-1924); 413-425 King (1926-
1937); 326-328 5th Avenue S. (1937-1947).
Name of owner: Raper, Harry.
Make of cars: Hupmobile (1923-1927); Jordan (1923-1927);
Gray (1923); Oldsmobile (1926-1947); Viking (1930).
Notes: In 1947 Newburg Motor Co. located at this address.
~~~Harry was the husband of Rose Hofweber.

CARS IN LA CROSSE

A CHECKLIST OF AUTOMOBILE DEALERS IN LA CROSSE,
WISCONSIN FROM 1907 TO 1980

Compiled by
Kathryn Beane and Linda Sondreal

Edwin L. Hill
General Editor

Area Research Center Checklist Series

Number Seven

Murphy Library
University of Wisconsin - La Crosse
La Crosse, Wisconsin
1985PREFACE

Cars in La Crosse was begun in the 1983-84 academic year
by Kathryn Beane and completed by Linda Sondreal in early
1985. Our interest in the automobile dealerships of this
city resulted from frequent research queries by patrons
as well as from staff requirements. The growth of the
automobile dealership business is a history of the rise
and fall of makes and models, of the merger and consolidation
of companies, and the more recent rise of imported
car sales. it is also the story of adaptation, where the
horseshoeing shop becomes the car repair garage.

For this checklist,* such standard sources as city direc
tories, telephone directories, newspapers, promotional
brochures, advertising, and trade publications were used.
Dates of dealership activity are approximate. Our cut-off
date is 1980; make or dealership activity is carried to
this date and closed at 1980, even though most of these
firms continue in business.

The checklist is in three major sections: the first section,
the dealerships, contains all the basic information for
each firm. Sections two and three are lists of owners of
dealerships and makes of automobiles, respectively, and
each entry refers back to the major entry or entries in
section one.

The work of Mrs. Beane and especially that of Linda Sondreal
is most appreciated. Both worked on this project as time
was available, and both can take satisfaction in knowing
the importance of careful compilation as this checklist
is used.

Edwin L. Hill
June 1985