100 YEARS OF DOMINION MOTORS - 1911-2011

In 1908 George Dolcetti started a bicycle repair shop and in 1911 the entrepreneurial businessman went into the automobile business.  George was also the owner of a very sophisticated Essex race car driven by the notable Frank Colosimo.  Frank would later drive the famed “King’s Special”.

This is how Dominion Motors looked in the 1940's - Photo
Courtesy of Jerry McKenzie.

I detect a hot rod in this close-up from the above photos!!

Later, his sons Guido and Alfred operated two separate dealerships, one in Port Arthur, Ontario and one in Fort William, Ontario until Guido’s death in 1968.

This is how Dominion Motors looked in the 1950's - Photo Courtesy of Jerry McKenzie.

In 1970, Alfred amalgamated the two dealerships and moved the entire operation to May Street in Thunder Bay South, the same year that the City of Thunder Bay was established by the amalgamation of the two cities previously mentioned.

Always a familiar sight at the Stock Car Races at the CLE was

the Dominion Motors tow truck.

Here's the Dominion tow truck again

rescuing Prokosh and Zatti!

In 1980 John purchased the business.  Looking toward the future in 1988, John built a new dealership at its present location on Copper Crescent.  After thirty one years as a General Motors dealer, John remains in an advisory capacity today.  Present owner and manager, Tyler Dolcetti, George’s great grandson proudly carries on his family’s legacy into a fourth generation.

 Here is how Dominion Motors looked in the 1970's. The tall facade in the front was removed to make it more modern looking and the used car lot was enlarged. The "Used Cars" building is there to this day. The long curved top building and its attached building belonged to the well known May Auto Parts.  Most of this building is still there today as well.

This is the back of the above postcard.

This is how the complete building looks today.

This is the Ken Peterson Used car lot that used to belong to Dominion Motors.  If you look hard at the 1970 photo above, you can see this.

A recent photo of Tyler Dolcetti.

Dominion Motors looks today.

   

Thanks to all those who donated photos to this and all other blog posts.  Click on all pictures for enlargements!