From ’50s car dealership to fume-ridden depot, see inside long-gone SLO County service garage
Downtowns change to serve the times.
In the early days, large lots were devoted to stables for travelers to board each of their one-horsepower transportation units.
Later as the automobile became the dominant way to get around, big chunks of downtown were given over to parking, automotive dealerships and services.
Today, parking is sequestered into high-capacity parking structures and there aren’t any gas stations, dealerships or tire stores in San Luis Obispo’s downtown.
Cars take up a lot of physical space while sitting parked while not providing much entertainment, goods or services.
Cities meanwhile want to hang on to the tax revenue of dealerships but have changed the zoning to move them out of the downtown core.
Take a look at the history of the north side of Monterey Street between Santa Rosa and Osos streets.
In 1903, the land was open. And across the street, about where the Fremont Theater, is today was the Commercial Hotel and S.J. Mudd’s Livery.
By 1948, where the courthouse frontage is today, there were a variety of auto services including the C.H. Kamm & Co, and later the used car dealer Meyer & Willett, which advertised “Clean cars kept inside 1044 Monterey.”
There was also the Nash dealer in the area, which was located at the corner of Osos and Monterey streets.
A 1950 photo shows the Kamm facility selling Buick and next door the Willy’s dealership, Nash is on the corner.
In 1952, San Luis County took the step of buying 1044 Monterey St. to use as a service garage for the county fleet.
It was roughly where the stairs for the courthouse are today.
The building had problems over the years.
In September 1973, a leaking gasoline tank may have contributed to fumes entering the sewer system. Testing revealed the loss of a gallon and a half of gas every day so the county shut the tank down.
Louis Bordan of Pismo Beach won the contract to demolish the building in 1976. The county sold the building to him for $1,500 to allow him to scrap it. His crew had just finished demolishing the burned Obispo Theater.
He and city officials disagreed over the quality of the theater demolition, but the county was satisfied that there would be no problems.
The garage had been on the replacement list since 1972.
This unbylined story from the Aug. 17, 1972, Telegram-Tribune tells the story. Though the images were credited in print to Larry Jamison, the negatives were filed under Wayne Nicholls and has his handwriting on the glassine envelope.
The photos are an interesting time capsule of former car styles and even the old county logo.
County garage in line for repair
Anxiety over the condition of the county garage building on the Monterey Street side of the courthouse complex was somewhat allayed this week.
County Engineer George Protopapas reported after a check ordered by the board last month that some remedial repair should help.
Protopapas recommended patching the roof and bolstering the trusses.
He also said it is “quite critical” that parking be prohibited against the brick bearing and retaining wall on the least side, and he called for removal of the tree and earth behind the wall.
Administrators were told to have the work done.
The condition of the building was brought to the board’s attention by purchasing agent Robert Keefe, whose office is in the building.
Protopapas’ report refrained from saying his recommendations would rectify the situation and Keefe said the matter is still under study.
Protopapas reported only on the structural condition.
Keefe said another complaint, of too much carbon monoxide from exhausts of cars being moved in and out of the garage, was eased by removal of the road department vehicles. He said an employee who nearly passed out, apparently from the fumes, has had his desk moved to the front where the wide doors allow more ventilation.
And, Keefe said, experts from the county Health Department and the state Division of Industrial Safety are due to monitor the air in the garage.
Replacement of the garage, which is about 50 years old, is scheduled to start in 1976-77 under a two-year, $2.3 million program.
