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Shannon Litz/The R-C History: A sign in the office of the COD Garage says the COD Garage is a member of the farm bureau federation.
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ENLARGE
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Shannon Litz/The R-C Reminiscing: Marlena Hellwinkel looks at her son, Robb Hellwinkel as he talks at the C.O.D. Garage.
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ENLARGE
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Shannon Litz/R-C Photos History: Robb Hellwinkel in the C.O.D. Garage where a Porsche ad was once photographed. At top, a sign in the office of the garage announcing its membership in the Farm Bureau Federation.
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A newspaper advertisement for the C.O.D. Garage in Minden might read: Wanted - an interested party to lease a historic automobile dealership and service center while preserving its character.
For the first time in 93 years the 22,500-square-foot structure sits empty and the owners want to find an appropriate business to take over.
"I've had a lot of people look, but nobody's made an offer yet," said Robb Hellwinkel, the grandson of Fred Hellwinkel, who worked at the garage and later took over ownership.
Fred was a mechanic at the garage when it opened in 1912, became a full partner in 1919 and took over ownership in 1938 when his partner, Clarence Oliver Dangberg died.
Dangberg's initials, C.O.D., provided the name for the company, according to Robb's mother, Marlena Hellwinkel.
Fred's sons Don and Danny Hellwinkel, joined the firm after serving in WWII. In 1963 AMC Jeep joined their line of automobiles. The company dealt mainly in Buick and Chevrolet, but also sold Dodge cars and Lauson tractors. It was a Goodyear dealer and offered AAA towing service.
The V & T Railroad delivered automobiles to the garage until 1950.
Fred, known to the locals as "Brick," was one of the organizers of the local fire department. He died in 1964 and according to Wynne M. Maule's book, "Minden, Nevada: The Story of a Unique Town 1906-1992," during his funeral a sign was hung over the garage that read "Brick's Gone."
"My husband and his brother, Dan, assumed the dealership," said Marlena. "Robb joined the firm in 1988, in the sales department."
Fred's sons Don and Danny Hellwinkel, joined the firm after serving in WWII. In 1963 AMC Jeep joined their line of automobiles. The company dealt mainly in Buick and Chevrolet, but also sold Dodge cars and Lauson tractors. It was a Goodyear dealer and offered AAA towing service.
The V & T Railroad delivered automobiles to the garage until 1950.
Fred, known to the locals as "Brick," was one of the organizers of the local fire department. He died in 1964 and according to Wynne M. Maule's book, "Minden, Nevada: The Story of a Unique Town 1906-1992," during his funeral a sign was hung over the garage that read "Brick's Gone."
"My husband and his brother, Dan, assumed the dealership," said Marlena. "Robb joined the firm in 1988, in the sales department."
The company had earned the distinction of being "the oldest continuously family-owned auto dealership in the state of Nevada."
In 2002 when Dan Hellwinkel died, the Hellwinkel family continued to run the business until Dec. 18, 2003, when it sold the auto dealership to Carson Valley Chevrolet Buick and leased the building to the company to use as a service center.
"It was just time to move on," said Marlena.
The first week in April the dealership opened its new service center just across Highway 395, and the brick building became available for lease.
The building, which runs almost the entire block from the corner of Esmeralda Avenue and Highway 395, has had two additions. The inside brick wall of the original C.O.D. Garage, that faces the highway, still displays the name of the business on a painted sign. The business office and car washing area along Esmeralda were added in 1917. Local contractors Jensen and Dressler constructed another addition on the Esmeralda side in 1927. The building next door, Minden Dry Goods, was purchased by C.O.D. Garage in 1975 and became the parts department.
In 2002 when Dan Hellwinkel died, the Hellwinkel family continued to run the business until Dec. 18, 2003, when it sold the auto dealership to Carson Valley Chevrolet Buick and leased the building to the company to use as a service center.
"It was just time to move on," said Marlena.
The first week in April the dealership opened its new service center just across Highway 395, and the brick building became available for lease.
The building, which runs almost the entire block from the corner of Esmeralda Avenue and Highway 395, has had two additions. The inside brick wall of the original C.O.D. Garage, that faces the highway, still displays the name of the business on a painted sign. The business office and car washing area along Esmeralda were added in 1917. Local contractors Jensen and Dressler constructed another addition on the Esmeralda side in 1927. The building next door, Minden Dry Goods, was purchased by C.O.D. Garage in 1975 and became the parts department.
The original signs and woodwork remain throughout the building.
"We'd like to keep the brick look and the wooden beams," said Marlena.
Fred liked to put coins in cement whenever he poured new cement and Robb's hand print and the names Dan H. and Don H. are inscribed in the cement on the business office steps.
The garage holds many memories for Marlena.
"I can remember a lot of late nights when my husband would be out towing," said Marlena, who has been married to Don for 51 years. "He would come home with cold feet."
"We'd like to keep the brick look and the wooden beams," said Marlena.
Fred liked to put coins in cement whenever he poured new cement and Robb's hand print and the names Dan H. and Don H. are inscribed in the cement on the business office steps.
The garage holds many memories for Marlena.
"I can remember a lot of late nights when my husband would be out towing," said Marlena, who has been married to Don for 51 years. "He would come home with cold feet."
Marlena said she worked part-time as a "gopher girl."
"Every time I went to Reno for a doctor's appointment or something I had to pick up parts," she said. "Don's mom had to go through the same thing."
Marlena said she enjoyed traveling to National Automobile Dealers Association conventions across the country.
Don was more on the sales end of the business, and Dan and Fred were the mechanics, according to Marlena, who said they called Fred "The Boss."
Marlena said Fred was raised on a family ranch where the Aspen Mobile Home Park is now located.
"Every time I went to Reno for a doctor's appointment or something I had to pick up parts," she said. "Don's mom had to go through the same thing."
Marlena said she enjoyed traveling to National Automobile Dealers Association conventions across the country.
Don was more on the sales end of the business, and Dan and Fred were the mechanics, according to Marlena, who said they called Fred "The Boss."
Marlena said Fred was raised on a family ranch where the Aspen Mobile Home Park is now located.
"He didn't go into ranching because of the pollen. He had hay fever," she said. "He was more mechanically inclined."
The garage became a movie set in the late 1980s, for the 1989 film "The Wizard," starring Fred Savage. It also served as a backdrop during a Porsche cars' photoshoot.
Recently, Robb and Marlena traveled to Boise, Idaho, which has a preserved downtown area, to get different ideas for what they could do with the almost-century-old building.
"We want to keep in line with Minden's Plan for Prosperity," said Marlena.
In spite of its age, the old brick building is fully intact and ready for business, according to Robb.
If interested in leasing the C.O.D. Garage call Jim Nickerson at Century 21, 782-7111.
The garage became a movie set in the late 1980s, for the 1989 film "The Wizard," starring Fred Savage. It also served as a backdrop during a Porsche cars' photoshoot.
Recently, Robb and Marlena traveled to Boise, Idaho, which has a preserved downtown area, to get different ideas for what they could do with the almost-century-old building.
"We want to keep in line with Minden's Plan for Prosperity," said Marlena.
In spite of its age, the old brick building is fully intact and ready for business, according to Robb.
If interested in leasing the C.O.D. Garage call Jim Nickerson at Century 21, 782-7111.
