AgdaPkt 2016-09-12 Closed and Joint SA PFA

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Dusel began building his Dusel Building for Guy Clifton in 1922. It was finished by November, and Clifton moved his new Chevrolets inside. The following year, 1923, Dusel Built a 75x100 galvanized iron building to the rear of the sales room building, specifically to be the auto repair shop and tire sales store. It had its entrance on Walnut Street where autos waiting to be repaired could be parked. In March, 1924 the new car sales room was remodeled. The walls were hand painted with scenes from Yosemite, to be used as a backdrop to show off the new Chevrolet touring car. Mr. Doxsee, a local painter who had his business nearby, did the murals. The show rooms were remodeled to accommodate another automobile; the first Rickenbacker automobile which went on display in Redwood City in May 1924. Eddie Rickenbacker had landed at the RC Airport in May 1921, and had toured Redwood City. In 1925 Clifton sold out, but the business continued to operate as an auto sales and service business. From 1929 to 1930 it was the Fowler-Nash Motor Co., but they leased only 1/3 of the building. One third sat vacant and the other 1/3 was occupied by Leach Furniture Co. Thus, in about 1929 the building became a typical three-business building using three separate entrances, which is how it remains today. Many different tenants have occupied this building. Most memorable to RC residents is probably Redwood Auto Supply. This firm occupied the center store (849 Main) for over 40 years (1939-early 1980s). For about 13 years, from 1953 to about 1966, the store on the left (847 Main) was the carpet outlet for Union Furniture Company, which operated next door in the bottom floor of the I.O.O.F. Building. The galvanized building behind these stores was used as a carpet warehouse for Union during these years. In 1976 Sequoia Auto Parts occupied this section of the building as an "annex" to their store on lower Main Street. The third store area in this building (851 Main) was a liquor store from approximately 1946 to 1963. This single story commercial block is divided into three identical shop fronts, each having large display windows set above a wood base with panels, a continuous overhead transom and canted inset entries leading to double glass and panel doors with transoms. There is a fanciful play of historical references in the decorative details; a classical cornice, with alternating heraldic shields and shell motifs and a bed molding of egg-and-dart, is crowned by a plain parapet, which unites the block. Roll moldings, some with rosettes, appear along the wall and window edges, embellishing and articulating the block's distinct parts. Sources: •Richard Schellens Collection (Bus., families, real estate) Sanborn Fire Insurance Company Maps 1907, 1919 •RC City Directories •Main Street to Miracle Mile, by Chester H. Liebs Page 42 7.B. - Page 53