In the year 2000, the Vaughan family celebrated 85 years in the automotive business in Fredericton.
In 1904, William E. Vaughan (W. E.) moved to Fredericton as manager of Smith Foundry Co. Published in "Cars of Canada" by Danford Bacchler, an article tells of how W. E. Vaughan and a friend, in 1911 drove a Hupmobile from Fredericton to Saint John in the dead of winter. The trip had never been made before. However, they didn't use the road, but went down the frozen surface of the Saint John River.
In 1914, he started Vaughan and Kitchen (with A. B. Kitchen) on Campbell Street, for the sale and repair of automobiles. In 1919, his brother Captain John Vaughan joined the firm and the name was changed to Capital Garage, distributors of Stanley Steamers, and agents for Hudson, Studebaker and Chevrolet cars.
In the early years, W. E., a boat builder as well as mechanic, built a steam boat in Springfield called the "Escota," and it plied the waters between Fredericton and Woodstock.
Many more power boats were built for local races with Pete Vaughan racing at the A & B Boat Club, and in later years, Jack Vaughan's son Carl driving "Miss Willys."
In the 1930's, a new garage was built across the street at 355 Campbell St., and son Jack, who previously operated Jack's Service Station, joined the firm.
Some of W. E.'s other family members who worked at the garage were Marion, Pete, and Bill Jr. (W. S.).
In 1935, the Vaughan family started a bus service called Capital Transit.
Throughout the years, the family also sold Hupmobile, Grey Dort, Roosevelt, Nash, Reo, Packard, Morris, Triumph, Jaguar, Vanguard, Mercedes, Willys, and Volkswagen automobiles.
During World War II, E. E. was called on to build mine sweepers in St. Andrews, under the name of Vaughan Shipbuilding Co. Several were built, but in July of 1944, the company was destroyed by fire.
In 1946, Jack expanded the parts business and relocated to Phoenix Square under the name Auto Machinery & General Supply Co. Ltd. In 1952, Auto Machinery constructed a building at 355 Campbell St.
In 1957, Jack's son Ronald, a civil engineer by profession, joined the firm, and in 1959, Ron's brother Carl came to work at Auto Machinery.
In 1965, Ron formed Eastern Automotive Warehousing Ltd. with Peter Wilkins and Gerald Phillips, to handle the wholesale warehousing and distribution to jobber accounts. Claude Gilks joined the company in 1968 as manager and is still with the Vaughan family as purchasing manager.
In 1967, Doug Scott joined the company and is now store manager.
In 1975, the land for the Vaughan business was expropriated for the Westmorland Street Bridge, and Capital Garage was closed. Auto Machinery moved to the industrial park and Carl left in 1977 to start Corporate General Insurance. Ron's son Douglas joined the firm in 1973 after graduating from Rothesay Collegiate, making it four generations of Vaughans in the automotive business in their 85 year history.
Auto Machinery is one of the largest automotive stores in the Maritimes with over thirty employees.
The Vaughans have had many employees over the years who practically spent their lives with them. Dick Richardson joined the firm in 1916 and stayed until his death in 1973. Others were George Tims, Stan Barr, Judd Lutes, Laura Savage, Douglas Spencer, Ken Harvey, Marven Briggs, Murray Goodine, Elwood MacKay, and Audrey Goodine.
The Vaughan family continues to provide a valuable service to countless service stations, parts stores, and retail purchasers.
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