The Lee MacLellan Family Story
MacLellan Auto Dealerships
My grandfather was a salesman. Aside from the military, he spent almost all of his professional life in sales, particularly auto sales.
Hiis first excursion into sales occurred between WWI and WWII when he worked for two companies in Minneapolis: Butler Brothers company, a retail and wholesale supplier; and a transportation company. His father-in-law, Francis Baker (aka "Daddy B") worked at Butler Brothers, whose home office is shown below left.
Lee started in the auto business when he joined the firm started by his brother Alden, Alden MacLellan Inc. "Uncle Al" had moved from Minneapolis to Allentown PA, and in 1934 acquired an old building to sell Dodge cars. The business expanded, and in 1937 Lee MacLellan joined his brother to manage a new branch in Bethlehem, PA.
A Chevrolet dealership stands at the corner of 17th and Tilgham in Allentown, former site of Alden MacLellan Inc. The owner told me in 2017 that some of the old site still remains.
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About 5 years after Lee left Butler Brothers they started two of the earliest "five and dime" stores, Ben Franklin and Federated.
Lee MacLellan was the manager of the Dodge/Plymouth/Simca branch of Alden MacLellan Ford. Notice the banner "A Safe Way to buy Used Cars". The Alden MacLellan business thrived during WWII because people were clamoring for a good used car due to the war. My grandfather is shaking the hand of a customer in this picture.
An ad for a Dodge Dart in 1960, the hey-day of cars with rear fins.
Lee MacLellan was a member of the Rotary Club for many years (notice the Rotary pin on his lapel). This picture was taken about 1960.
Aside from his service in WWII, he did that for the rest of his life.