Whelan’s Garage – The Kingsbridge Historical Society

This topic has 11 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 1 year, 3 months ago by julieabellhorn.

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- December 31, 2022 at 8:59 pm #3207
  Djcwhelan
  Participant
  I am interested in learning more about this piece of Kingsbridge history. My Grandfather and his brothers started an auto garage off Bailey Avenue back in the day. I was told it was the first car shop on the Bronx.
- December 31, 2022 at 9:02 pm #3208
  Djcwhelan
  Participant
- January 1, 2023 at 11:17 am #3209
  Thomas Casey
  Participant
  Whelan’s Garage was active selling Socony gas ( Standard Oil became Mobil Oil ) in 1918 according to an add in the NY Times, located at 3129 – 3131 Bailey Ave Bronx NY. Still a garage. The names and date of birth of Mr. Whelan & his brother would help.
- January 2, 2023 at 8:02 pm #3211
  ndembowski
  Keymaster
  Whelan’s garage is refered to (but not by name) in this memoir written about Kingsbridge in the 1920s on page 15.
  
  I also noticed the Whelan name come up on page 14 of this document listing local men that served in WWI. William McBride Whelan and James Whelan are listed.
  
  Eventually, when our headquarters at Edgehill is fully set up, we will house our archives there. They are currently not accessible. We have some issues of the Riverdale News (the predecessor to the Riverdale Press) in our collection and you might have luck finding some information there down the road.
  
  How long did the business last?
- January 3, 2023 at 4:51 pm #3212
  Djcwhelan
  Participant
- January 3, 2023 at 4:54 pm #3213
  Djcwhelan
  Participant
- January 3, 2023 at 4:59 pm #3214
  Djcwhelan
  Participant
  Thats my grandfather, John Whelan. His real birth year was 1906, but he has it written 1904. I have more of these cab driver ID’s from different years. His older brother William ( im not sure of his middle name, i know he was in WWII amd korea, but not sure about WWI) probably took the lead with the business early, my grandfather was pretty young. I know the business lasted through the 40’s but not sure when it was finally sold.
- January 3, 2023 at 4:59 pm #3215
  Djcwhelan
  Participant
- January 3, 2023 at 5:00 pm #3216
  Djcwhelan
  Participant
- January 3, 2023 at 5:10 pm #3217
  Thomas Casey
  Participant
  So not to stand on my head
- January 3, 2023 at 5:38 pm #3218
  Peter Ostrander
  Participant
  Grew up on Kingsbridge Heights and not to my 20s did my family get a car. We use to have it serviced and yearly inspected at Whelan’s. So at least through the 70s it was there and later. At some point I believe it became a tire dealership.
- January 3, 2023 at 6:04 pm #3219
  julieabellhorn
  Participant
  Hi, I can help with when the property was sold out of the Whelan family. A search on ACRIS for Block 3267, Lot 54 turns up a deed, from 1998, from the estate of Helena Agnes Whelan to a realty company. Can’t seem to attach .pdf files here, but it’s easily found. Also, if you do a search on 3129 Bailey Ave on fultonhistory.com there are lots of hits referencing Whelan’s garage through the early 1970s at least. One ad said they began their business in 1914. Good luck with your research!
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