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The Arrival of the 1949 Ford

Cost $1590

Early in 1948 there were rumors of the new restyled Ford at the Seaview Garage. Packages of literature began to pile up under the Parts Department counter, tubes of posters leaning in the corner, all sealed tight. Jim, the parts manager, kept guard over this booty.

My head spun with ideas of what the new Ford was going to look like. In the summer of 1947, I saw a new-style Studebaker while visiting my grandmother in Holliston, MA. One had to look twice to know which direction it was going to go! Another new style was the ’47 Kaiser; there was one in town. I molded these new designs in my head and came up with the new Ford.

It was springtime and rumors were that there were two ’49 Fords stored in Seaview! Where, oh where could they be? My head searched all of the garages and barns nearby. Al C’s two-car garage? No. A three-car garage down the street? No. A large barn down Summer Street? Nope. Then, right under my nose, why were Charlie and Mrs. Langille’s two Fords parked on Station Street?

Charlie had recently built a two-car garage on Station Street after he sold the Seaview Garage, so he could now keep their two new Fords safe and under cover. They had been out for a few nights, and the garage windows had cardboard over them. How was I going to get into his garage to see the new Fords? My head spun with ideas. The best I could do was, after school, and when Charlie wasn’t home, to ask Mrs. L if she had any odd jobs for me — I needed 50 cents for gas for my old woods car. (My A-bone pick-up, a story for later). Mrs. L said she would clean out her flower garden, which ran from Summer Street to Station Street. I was to fill the wheelbarrow and dump it across the old railroad bed. That would be tomorrow!

Oh my, would tomorrow ever come? My plan was to ask for the keys to the shed to get the rakes and wheelbarrow, then unlock the side garage door and take a peek! Well tomorrow came, the longest day in school I’d ever had! Off the bus, change my clothes, over to Mrs. L’s. She was already out, and had piles of litter, so no keys! But no wheelbarrow either! I asked where it was. Mrs. L said it wasn’t in the shed but was in the garage in the far corner, and the garage was unlocked. Oh my word, how easy was this going to be . . .

She told me to lift the wheelbarrow over the cars and to be careful. I ran to their garage, opened the door, flipped on the light and oh —–! The cars were covered! I lifted the front of the nearest, and oh my! A black, wide thing with a large bullet in the middle of the grille. Then I slipped down to the rear of the other, lifted the cover . . . this car was either light green or tan — I can’ t remember. They had no fenders, that is, not added on! Long, low, wide, somewhat a cross between a Studebaker and a Kaiser, much like my mental picture.

It even had fender skirts!

I could barely get the ‘barrow from the corner, over the hoods, out the door, down the stairs, and now I had no interest to pick up the garden litter! But I did, and earned a dollar — very generous for two hours work and a preview of the new 1949 Ford. Wow, life was good. Bragging rights in school — and I did! Mrs. L. didn’t have a clue I was interested in the cars or that I would take a peek.

The Seaview Garage got cleaned up, floors got painted, windows cleaned. The big opening day came and that weekend I helped pass out literature. The Ford Motor Company strained to catch up on the thousands of orders.

by Ray Freden
Originally published in the Marshfield Mariner, February 18, 2009

 
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The 1946 Super DeLuxe Ford.

Ford Sedan cost $1,074

The war ended and new cars started to arrive at the Seaview Garage in 1946. Most were built in ’45, but dealers referred to them as 1946 models. A black sedan with a new engine, a 59A 85 h.p. V/8. Wow.

Sometime in 1946, Charles Langille sold the Seaview Garage to Edward Soule. Soon afterward “Ed” started to expand the garage with unattractive additions. The first was to the north end, a 2-bay lubrication pit; then to the west, to the edge of Station Street. Most of the neighbors thought the additions were ugly!

The garage continued to sell gas (Tydol) and oil (Veedol). There was a large Tydol/Veedol sign hanging from a bracket on the roof, with a flying horse in the center. Gas price was about 15 cents per gallon in 1946. In 1949 it was 17 cents, in 1950 it was 18 cents, and in 1959, 25 cents. I can remember 5 gallons for a dollar!

There was a waiting list for a 1946 Super DeLuxe Ford. Those that could pay under the counter didn’t wait long! The 1946 thru 1948 looked much the same, some chrome changes and parking light relocations. In 1948, four new colors were added.

In ’48, I was 14 and knew about everything to know about a Ford car, so I thought! A 1948 Ford Sportsman convertible came in. “Oh wow, this is the best Ford ever!” Wood side panels, tan convertible top, white walls, red leather seats, a spot light, a radio, a 100 h.p. engine, and hydraulic lift windows. Also a Colombia 2-speed rear end. Oh ya, I knew what a 2-speed was — some of the contractors’ dump trucks had them. If you didn’t shift them correctly, oh what a grind! The cost of the Sportsman was over $2,000. Fat chance I’d ever own one!

by Ray Freden
Originally published in the Marshfield Mariner, February 4, 2009

Ford Super Deluxe Sportsman cost $1,982.
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WWII Air Raid Patrols & Military Convoys

There was an air raid horn mounted atop the Seaview Garage roof. It was tested every week at night. My Dad was a warden. The horn would sound and scare the —- out of me! Dad would don his air raid outfit, a helmet, an armband, a flashlight, dark clothing, a nightstick, a whistle and a notebook.

He patrolled from the Seaview Garage to the O’Donnells’ at 90 Summer Street.

The wardens were to be responsible for all lights out and no driving of cars. One time a car came down Summer Street during the test and my Dad stopped the driver. He said, “Harry you can’t drive. Pull over to the side and wait for the all clear.” Harry responded, “Bill, go to Hell,” and drove off. Dad never reported him as he should have. Harry apologized later.

When my Dad was on his air raid patrol beat, he would pass our house (189 Summer Street) and give a little flash of his light to the special window, where I’d be sitting, watching and waiting, on the second floor landing. This window had a clear center with different color stained glass around the border. I could see clearly to Central Ave, near the bottom of 4th Cliff during the day.

During the war years, military convoys would come down Summer Street past the Seaview Garage and past my house, sometimes during the day. That’s when I would wait until they passed, then run into the house, up the stairs to my window, and watch them moving slowly up Central Ave. in Humarock. They were going to the Air Force Base on 4th Cliff. At night, it was a different story. When a convoy came through at night, one could barely hear or see them, with no lights on or very small slits on their headlights. After they passed, I would take my Dad’s binoculars, go to my window, and try to see them approaching the Cliff — usually with no luck. I always thought enemy subs or ships were off 4th Cliff, and so reinforcements were sent to the base. It was pretty scary for an 8 or 9 year old!

Convoy stopped on Summer St. for a break, c.1944.

 

by Ray Freden
Originally published in the Marshfield Mariner, January 21, 2009