Cordell - Turvaville Motors

by

Norm Madsen

Page 2

Parts and Accessories on display, 1946

New cars were so scarce at the time, that the streets were packed, and Tallahassee Police were called in to direct traffic. In 1948, the Hudson factory representative informed the partners that his company was requiring multiple-line dealerships to have a separate showroom for its cars. They protested, but did not want to lose Hudson (or Packard), and purchased property at 1175 N. Monroe St. (caddy-corner to their business). They prepared to erect a second showroom. Before the new showroom could be built, the property's seller, Alma Ott, had to have her home moved to adjacent property. The new land was cleared without charge by the Department of Transportation, which used much of the dirt to help raise US 27 by Lake Jackson. Hudson's factory did finally allow Cordell-Turvaville to show its cars in the same showroom with Packard's, and the new land became a used car lot for the growing dealership.

A salesman awaits prospects under the umbrella at left.

In February 1950, Turvaville sold his interest to Cordell and went into semi-retirement. He was persuaded to return on several occasions to run and/or "straighten out" the parts department, working for six months to a year at a time before again retiring. By 1955, Hudson had merged with Nash to become American Motors. Packard had melded with Studebaker and was in its final downslide. Joe Cordell was approached by the Mercury representative about taking over the floundering Capital Lincoln Mercury, then on South Monroe. Cordell agreed, and moved the Lincoln-Mercury dealership to his North Monroe property. He dropped all other car lines, but continued to service Hudsons and Packards for a few more years. He controlled Capital LM until the mid 1980s, and died in 2002. J.D. Turvaville is an avid sports fan and sportsman. At age 87 he is active in church, as well as several clubs and organizations. He regularly hunts, fishes and drives his Jeep on trips around the country. Chatting with J.D. was a pleasure, and I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to share his fond and detailed memories of the auto business in Tallahassee in the 30s, 40s and 50s.

The New Hudson on display, September 26, 1946.

All photos are courtesy of J.D. Turvaville. Blossoms Florist now occupies the building that once housed Cordell-Turvaville Motors on the corner of 5th and N. Monroe St. If you drive in the right-most lane, and pass the building while traveling South, you will be driving right through the former location of the showroom (because Monroe St. has been widened to four lanes). Across the intersection (on the Southeast corner, or caddy-corner to Blossoms Florist) is the old Capital Lincoln-Mercury building, now occupied by Quality Collision Center.