branch house ARCHIVES
Oliver established regional branch houses to support the dealers in each region. The Branch Houses served as parts warehouses, dealt with dealer orders of parts and machinery, stocked some tractors and machinery, and also served as regional offices for the company. In 1907, the first branch house for Hart-Parr was built in Wichita, Kansas. Another branch house was built in Aberdeen, South Dakota. Later, Hart-Parr added branch houses in Grand Forks, North Dakota, Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, and Great Falls, Montana. Oliver Chilled Plow Works also established branch houses in locations across the United States. These branch houses were combined as part of the 1929 merger and creation of Oliver Farm Equipment company.
Minneapolis, MN
Branch house was located at 3310 Como Avenue. This branch had "sub-branches" in Fargo, North Dakota and Waukesha, Wisconsin.
Branch house was located at 3310 Como Avenue. This branch had "sub-branches" in Fargo, North Dakota and Waukesha, Wisconsin.
Omaha, NE
Branch house was located at 4402 Florence Blvd (N. 20th Street) in North Omaha from 1935 - 1956
Branch house was located at 4402 Florence Blvd (N. 20th Street) in North Omaha from 1935 - 1956
Clyde A. Hart was a long time Omaha branch office manager - serving there from 1940 - 1954.
In July 1956, the Omaha Branch House for the Oliver Corporation moved to 7002 F Street, Omaha, NE. This new 200' x 350' building was constructed by Oliver costing $500,000. In 1966, the Omaha branch served all dealers in Iowa, Nebraska, and the south half of South Dakota along with 6 NE counties in Colorado and 4 SW counties in Minnesota. At this time, Mr. Duane Starr was the branch service manager and later became the western division manager. The Omaha branch was typically one of the top branch houses in term of equipment sales. The Omaha branch/division included "sub-branches" in Iowa at Des Moines and Charles City, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and in Sidney, Nebraska.
Peoria, IL
Branch house was located at 10000 N Galena Road in Peoria
Branch house was located at 10000 N Galena Road in Peoria
The Peoria Branch House was one of the top equipment selling branches in the Oliver Corporation. The original branch house was located at 1500 N. Adams, Peoria at least by 1932. Oliver moved to the branch house location above in the late 1950's. When the St. Louis branch was closed in June 1960, all it's operations were moved to the Peoria branch. The branch house closed in 1988. At this time, the parts distribution operations relocated to Kewanee, IL at this time. Sales and service transferred to the New Idea branch in Davenport, Iowa.
Columbus, OH
Branch house was located at 195 Phillipi Road
Branch house was located at 195 Phillipi Road
Kansas City, KS
Branch house was located at 2900 Fairfax Road in Kansas City, KS
Branch house was located at 2900 Fairfax Road in Kansas City, KS
The branch house was built in 1946 and included 67,000 sq ft of space. The branch house location was used as a Minneapolis Moline dealership (Shuck Implement) in 1971-72 and was then sold.
The previous Kansas City branch house was located at 13th Street and Hickory Street in Kansas City, MO at least by 1932. The Kansas City branch had '"sub-branches" in Denver, Wichita, and Oklahoma City.
The previous Kansas City branch house was located at 13th Street and Hickory Street in Kansas City, MO at least by 1932. The Kansas City branch had '"sub-branches" in Denver, Wichita, and Oklahoma City.
Des Moines, IA
Branch house was located at 2000 East Walnut St The "new" Des Moines Branch building on East Walnut opened in 1939 and had 70,000 square feet of warehouse space. It was located along the rail line for delivery of equipment and parts by rail from Oliver factories. It was originally a "sub-branch" under the Omaha branch house. In 1952, it was upgraded to full branch house status along with some other branch house locations. In 1961, Lloyd Tuttle was appointed as the manager of the branch, replacing Jim Kruskopf. At this time, the Des Moines branch oversaw 82 counties in Iowa. It was closed sometime before 1966 and the Omaha branch office took over the former Des Moines branch's territory. Prior to 1939, the Des Moines branch office was located at 331 SW 6th Street in Des Moines. |
Additional Branch House Addresses:
South Bend, IN: 533 South Chapin, then at 1115 W. Sample Street
Harrisburg, PA: 1420 Mayflower Street
Oakland, CA: 1066 47th Ave
Lansing, MI: 3001 N. Dewitt Road
Portland, OR: 181st Ave & Halsey Street
Memphis, TN: 29 Hotel Street
South Bend, IN: 533 South Chapin, then at 1115 W. Sample Street
Harrisburg, PA: 1420 Mayflower Street
Oakland, CA: 1066 47th Ave
Lansing, MI: 3001 N. Dewitt Road
Portland, OR: 181st Ave & Halsey Street
Memphis, TN: 29 Hotel Street