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Sparks Motor Car Company\nEntries in Polk’s City Directories indicate that the Sparks family operated a Dodge/Plymouth dealership and garage in Vancouver from as early as 1928 and as late as 1950. The business occupied multiple building that were located on Broadway between 6th and 7th Streets. These may have been built at different times. The business was also listed in numerous advertisements in The Oregonian between 1923 and the early 1950s.\nNotes:\n1920 census shows Clay Sparks as clerk in hardware store. Living w/parents, Marshall and Alice\n1928 City Directory shows Spark’s Motor Car Co. at E. 7th and Broadway\n1930 census shows Leslie C. Sparks working at Auto Company\n1931 City Directory shows Sparks Motor Car Co. at 115 E 7th\n1934 and ’35 Oregonian Ads for Dodge Autos show Sparks at 115 E 7th and also in Longview/Kelso\n1940 Census shows Clay Sparks as owner of Sparks Motor Car Co. \n1941 and 1950 Oregonian Ads show Sparks Motor Car Company at E 6th and Broadway\n1942 WW-II Draft Registration: Leslie Clay Sparks was born Feb 24, 1890 in Vancouver. Self employed at Sparks Motor Co. 115 E 7th.\n1955 Apr 6, Leslie Clay Sparks died at 69 yrs\nBy 1960, the Dodge dealership in Vancouver has transferred to the Hannah Family but the Sparks’ appear to still own the one in Kelso.\nIn 1995, a fire gutted the southerly building where an auto body shop was located. The concrete shell remains today, but the building has never been rebuilt.
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Sparks Motor Car Company
Entries in Polk’s City Directories indicate that the Sparks family operated a Dodge/Plymouth dealership and garage in Vancouver from as early as 1928 and as late as 1950. The business occupied multiple building that were located on Broadway between 6th and 7th Streets. These may have been built at different times. The business was also listed in numerous advertisements in The Oregonian between 1923 and the early 1950s.
Notes:
1920 census shows Clay Sparks as clerk in hardware store. Living w/parents, Marshall and Alice
1928 City Directory shows Spark’s Motor Car Co. at E. 7th and Broadway
1930 census shows Leslie C. Sparks working at Auto Company
1931 City Directory shows Sparks Motor Car Co. at 115 E 7th
1934 and ’35 Oregonian Ads for Dodge Autos show Sparks at 115 E 7th and also in Longview/Kelso
1940 Census shows Clay Sparks as owner of Sparks Motor Car Co.
1941 and 1950 Oregonian Ads show Sparks Motor Car Company at E 6th and Broadway
1942 WW-II Draft Registration: Leslie Clay Sparks was born Feb 24, 1890 in Vancouver. Self employed at Sparks Motor Co. 115 E 7th.
1955 Apr 6, Leslie Clay Sparks died at 69 yrs
By 1960, the Dodge dealership in Vancouver has transferred to the Hannah Family but the Sparks’ appear to still own the one in Kelso.
In 1995, a fire gutted the southerly building where an auto body shop was located. The concrete shell remains today, but the building has never been rebuilt.