GRAM BROTHERS

[Welland Evening Tribune, 21 March 1929]

Starting in small quarters in 1919, Gram Brothers Ltd. now occupy a building with over 18,000 square feet and further addition required.-New show rooms provided by re-location-8 departments-Plant complete in every detail.

Ten years ago in March 1919, it was established in Welland the business of Gram Brothers for the purpose of giving emergency and repair service & tires in connection with automobiles. The business was started in a small building 14 ft. by 22 ft. on the site now occupied by the Edgar Block on Cross Street. Today the firm is an incorporated company under the name of Gram Brothers Limited and the business is carried on in the handsome and substantial two storey building at the corner of East Main and Burgar Street, the total floor space of which amounts to 18, 460 sq. ft. Such in short is the record of accomplishment of 2 young men who believed that a business could be built on the basis of quality and service combined with technical skill and expert knowledge applied to the mechanical end of the automobile business. It is also evidence of faith they had in the future of Welland and district, for there were not a few skeptics when the big new building was erected in 1924. The active officials of the company were the original owners of the business. M.F. Gram, president, W.A. Gram, manager and Secretary–Treasurer.

Through a decade in which they displayed commendable enterprise in the development of their business, they have always insisted on service to the customer and attention to detail besides operating a general garage business. They occupy an important position as automobile salesmen of the present time being the authorized dealers of Welland and district of Nash and Dodge cars.

Gram Brothers

• Opened 18 June 1924 at the corner of East Main and Burgar Streets
• Official newspaper announcement on 17 June 1924-Welland Tribune & Telegraph: microfilm WPL Centenary Issue pg. 20
• Architect of new building was NA Kearns
• Phone 842
• “How We Began: We began this business in Welland five years ago to the day. Our office equipment at the start consisted of a telephone, an empty cement can, a lead pencil and a day book. That last word is a bit too dignified. Our day book was a five-cent scribbler.”
• Specialized in Chrysler and Plymouth automobiles
• Ten year anniversary in 1929
• In 1972 they were located at 975 Niagara Street
• 1972 was the last time the business was indexed in city directory
• Martin Gram owned a farm on the corner of Niagara Street and Woodlawn Road. Sold to developers Bruce Abbey and Mr. Thompson resulting in street names, Abbey Road, Thompson Road and Gram Avenue.