Encyclopedia Dubuque
"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
Marshall Cohen—researcher and producer, CNN
Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
BIRD CHEVROLET
BIRD CHEVROLET. Bird Chevrolet was the first automobile dealership to move from downtown Dubuque to the west side.
Founded in 1927 as Mathey Chevrolet, the dealership became Bird Chevrolet in 1936 when it was purchased by Willis E. BIRD. Arthur Walsh, the company's accountant, guided the company through the 1940s and 1950s and acquired majority ownership.
The business was operated from several locations in the downtown area prior to the opening of its present location on July 6, 1966. Its last location in downtown Dubuque at Sixth and Iowa was planned for URBAN RENEWAL. Arthur Walsh and his son James W. Walsh purchased five acres of land at 3255 University and reopened the business. A major remodeling was completed in 1996 and a Chevrolet "image update" completed in 2008.
In 2012 the fourth generation of the Walsh family was operating the company.
In late May, 2018 General Manager of Pat McGrath Chevyland in Cedar Rapids Gavin McGrath said the company would take ownership on June 22 and rename it McGrath Chevrolet of Dubuque. (1)
The 1939 Dubuque Classified Business Directory through 1964 Dubuque City Directory listed the address as 600 Iowa.
The 1966 through 2012 Dubuque City Directory listed the corner of University and Highway 20 or 3255 University.
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Source:
1. "McGrath Buys Bird Chevrolet," KWWL.com Online: http://www.kwwl.com/story/38311533/2018/6/5/mcgrath-buys-bird-chevrolet-in-dubuque
Families in Business. (magazine) Telegraph Herald, July 30, 2010, p. 22