Norris & Son (J.W. Norris) 1921

NORRIS, DEAN

Posted By: Marilyn Norris Holmes (email)
Date: 3/16/2010 at 21:28:39

The Grinnell Herald (Grinnell, Iowa) March 15, 1921

NORRIS & SON

To write a thorough account of the business activities of J.W. Norris would fill a book. However, suffice it to say that Jim has been in the livery business for 35 years and has recently branched out into the auto game. J.W. started in an old barn back of the Grinnell house and then moved to the Skeeler barn which was located where Harry Saunders now is. By this time he had acquired enough money to build his own barn and so erected one on the ground where the Lyric is. This barn burned down and the business was removed to the Childs barn, where the co-operative company holds forth, staying there seven years.

From there he went to the corner where the post office now stands and constructed a modern livery and feed barn. He soon outgrew this place of business and so bought lots on Fourth Ave. and started work on the new modern building. From year to year he has added to the building until it now covers over 12,000 feet of floor space and is modern, steam heated and is a real place in which to store cars and hold sales. Over part of the building modern apartments have been built and the building is one of the show places of Grinnell.

Besides doing a big storage business, Mr. Norris and son operate a Standard gas filling station, sell tires and tubes, Goodrich and Ajax, and are equipped to handle the pure bred sales which are coming into prominence in Grinnell. The building is open 24 hours a day and Phil Dean is the night man. Raymond Norris is the son in the firm and takes an active part in the management since his return from the navy. Paul, another son, is also employed at the plant.