Part Four
by Joe Reinschmidt
Bill watches as Madeline checks under the hood, with Lynne looking on.There’s probably never a story written that doesn’t lead to other stories and interesting circumstances, coincidences or connections.
The Rowley Chevrolet dealership (located in Spencerport village where The Feltner Group is now located) was purchased by Dave Durfee and became Durfee Chevrolet on December 28, 1960. The business grew and in the mid 1960s moved to Parma Corners, specifically at 5035 West Ridge Road. The initial building there was soon expanded to accommodate growth. In 1986, Dave sold the business to his son, Pete, who after a number of years sold it to Dean Doan. It still operates today under the Doan name but is owned by another entity/individual. As we speak progress is underway on another major expansion. Bill’s father, Bob Bennett, who had worked at Rowley’s as a mechanic part time, later worked in sales at Durfee’s on Ridge Road.
As was noted in earlier writing about this car restoration project, both Bill and his wife, Lynne, were born in 1955, the year Madeline bought the car. We subsequently learned that Madeline had retired years ago after 39 years as a secretary at Kodak. Lynne retired last year also after 39 years of service at Kodak. Madeline’s secretarial skills carried over to her personal life evidenced by the fact that she saved not only the car’s bill of sale but also all 24 payment stubs for the two year financing she had obtained.
Bill, at the age of 25, was a passenger in a car that crashed. He was very seriously injured and if he lived his prognosis wasn’t good. His mother, Joan, rode with me when we went to Madeline’s residence. In response to my question about the accident she described the devastating, helpless feeling a mother experiences in such a situation. While Bill’s body may have been broken, his will to live was alive and after many months/years of care he substantially recovered, though left with some permanent physical limitations. His love for cars remained and resulted in the restoration of a number of vehicles, most recently the 1955 Chevy. You may be glad to know that Bill isn’t done yet, as he just bought a 1957 Chevy Bel Air two door hardtop to work on, but not to the extent the ‘55 required.
Bill and Lynne are having a home built in Florida, which they will move to this fall. They will be staying at their summer camp until then and hope to spend three months every summer there. The ‘55 Chevy is also making the trip to Florida in a car trailer and will be entered into the competition at a National Auto show in Orlando in February. Bill has promised to let us know if, or we should say when, it wins awards.
When I first met Bill and saw the car, he mentioned how nice it would be to have a Rowley license plate frame for it. My parents purchased several cars from Rowley’s and, of course, I had saved a plate frame that has hung on our garage wall for 50 years or more. I was glad to give it to Bill who did his restoration magic on it. The folks who see it in Florida will know exactly where the car came from. I don’t know if you classify that as having the last word or bringing up the rear. Either way it is a pleasure to have a small part in it.
One story often leads to another, notes freelance writer Joe Reinschmidt. This Rowley license plate frame was one his family had on a Chevy they had purchased from the Spencerport dealership.
