Azbell Distribution Company c1950

Entrepreneur Fred Azbell opened his own business in the mid-twentieth century selling Bowes Auto Parts.  Eventually, he secured a commercial building at 5021 East Michigan Street and operated at this site from 1950 through the mid-1960s until his untimely passing. The building was first constructed for Harry Asche in 1918 to service east side automobile owners.  Many others operated out of this garage including Charles P. Culley in the 1920s, John L. Manson in the 1930s, and a business called Wheeler and Gossett Auto Repairs in the 1940s. Mr. Azbell enclosed the central garage bay and turned the structure into an auto parts distribution center.  Spark plugs, wheelcaps, and just about any other Bowes parts were available to Irvington residents. The top image revealed the exterior of the structure in the 1950s.  In the second photo, Mr. Azbell on the right met with a client possibly in a filling station at 5135 East 10th Street.  In the third historic photo, Mr. Azbell proudly posed next to the Bowes Auto trucks c1945. The contemporary photo shows the early twentieth-century structure in 2014.

The Azbell Distributing Company at 5021 East Michigan Street (formerly 5019) c1950

Fred Azbell, on the right, visited one of his customers--possibly in a filling station 5135  East 10th Street run by Joe Himmel

Fred Azbell next to Bowes Auto Parts company car c1945

5021 East Michigan Street in 2014.  Harry Asche built the garage in 1918.  

The historic images are courtesy of Barbara Sanders.