branch house ARCHIVES
Oliver established regional branch houses to support the dealers in each region. The Branch Houses served as parts warehouses, dealt with dealer orders of parts and machinery, stocked some tractors and machinery, and also served as regional offices for the company. In 1907, the first branch house for Hart-Parr was built in Wichita, Kansas. Another branch house was built in Aberdeen, South Dakota. Later, Hart-Parr added branch houses in Grand Forks, North Dakota at 8th & Int. Ave, Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, and Great Falls, Montana. Oliver Chilled Plow Works also established branch houses in locations across the United States. These branch houses were combined as part of the 1929 merger and creation of Oliver Farm Equipment company.
Publication from 1959 showing all the branches and distributors for the Oliver Corporation.
From 1957, this map shows the divisions of Oliver Corporation along with the map of the branch house locations in the US and Canada.
Minneapolis, MN
Branch house was located at 3310 Como Avenue. This branch had "sub-branches" in Fargo, North Dakota and Waukesha, Wisconsin. In 1915, the Hart Parr branch in Minneapolis was located 228 Washington Ave North.
Branch house was located at 3310 Como Avenue. This branch had "sub-branches" in Fargo, North Dakota and Waukesha, Wisconsin. In 1915, the Hart Parr branch in Minneapolis was located 228 Washington Ave North.
Minneapolis, MN Branch House. Photo Credit: http://collections.mnhs.org/cms/display.php?irn=10717591
Omaha, NE
Branch house was located at 4402 Florence Blvd (N. 20th Street) in North Omaha from 1935 - 1956
Branch house was located at 4402 Florence Blvd (N. 20th Street) in North Omaha from 1935 - 1956
4402 Florence Blvd in the Saratoga Belt Line Historic District of North Omaha was home to the Oliver Farm Equipment Company from 1935 to 1956. Photo Credit: Durham Museum
Oliver opened a branch house in Omaha in 1913. In 1915, they relocated their branch to a larger location at 10th and Farnam. This location continued as the branch house through the merger of Hart-Parr - Oliver until it was outgrown by 1935. The 60,000 square foot location at 4402 Florence Blvd (shown above) provided more space for the growing farm equipment business. Clyde A. Hart was a long time Omaha branch office manager - serving there from 1940 - 1954.
In July 1956, the Omaha Branch House for the Oliver Corporation moved to 7002 F Street, Omaha, NE. This new 200' x 350' building was constructed by Oliver costing $500,000. In 1960, J.E. Carr was the Branch Manager, who had previously been at the Des Moines branch house. In 1966, the Omaha branch served all dealers in Iowa, Nebraska, and the south half of South Dakota along with 6 NE counties in Colorado and 4 SW counties in Minnesota. At this time, Mr. Duane Starr was the branch service manager and later became the western division manager. The Omaha branch was typically one of the top branch houses in term of equipment sales. The Omaha branch was technically considered a "division" and included "sub-branches" in Iowa at Des Moines and Charles City, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and in Sidney, Nebraska.
Peoria, IL
Branch house was located at 10000 N Galena Road in Peoria
Branch house was located at 10000 N Galena Road in Peoria
Peoria Branch House in the 1970's. Photo Credit: George Campbell
The Peoria Branch House was one of the top equipment selling branches in the Oliver Corporation. The original branch house was located at 1500 N. Adams, Peoria at least by 1932. Oliver moved to the branch house location above in the late 1950's. When the St. Louis branch was closed in June 1960, all it's operations were moved to the Peoria branch. The branch house closed in 1988. At this time, the parts distribution operations relocated to Kewanee, IL at this time. Sales and service transferred to the New Idea branch in Davenport, Iowa.
Columbus, OH
Branch house was located at 195 Phillipi Road
Branch house was located at 195 Phillipi Road
Columbus, Ohio Branch Office in the 1960s. Photo Credit: John Schwiebert
Kansas City, KS
Branch house was located at 2900 Fairfax Road in Kansas City, KS
Branch house was located at 2900 Fairfax Road in Kansas City, KS
Kansas City, KS Branch House in the late 1940's.
The branch house was built in 1946 and included 67,000 sq ft of space. The branch house location was used as a Minneapolis Moline dealership (Shuck Implement) in 1971-72 and was then sold.
The previous Kansas City branch house was located at 13th Street and Hickory Street in Kansas City, MO at least by 1932. The Kansas City branch had '"sub-branches" in Denver, Wichita, and Oklahoma City.
The previous Kansas City branch house was located at 13th Street and Hickory Street in Kansas City, MO at least by 1932. The Kansas City branch had '"sub-branches" in Denver, Wichita, and Oklahoma City.
The former Kansas City Branch building in 2023.
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Des Moines, IA
Branch house was located at 2000 East Walnut St The "new" Des Moines Branch building on East Walnut opened in 1939 and had 70,000 square feet of warehouse space. It was located along the rail line for delivery of equipment and parts by rail from Oliver factories. It was originally a "sub-branch" under the Omaha branch house. In 1952, it was upgraded to full branch house status along with some other branch house locations. In 1961, Lloyd Tuttle was appointed as the manager of the branch, replacing Jim Kruskopf. At this time, the Des Moines branch oversaw 82 counties in Iowa. It was closed sometime before 1966 and the Omaha branch office took over the former Des Moines branch's territory. Prior to 1939, the Des Moines branch office was located at 331 SW 6th Street in Des Moines. |
The Des Moines Branch of the Oliver Farm Equipment Sales Co. in the 1930's.
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Des Moines Branch Office in 1952.
Des Moines Branch sales team picture from circa 1962. Photo Credit: Duane Starr
The former Des Moines Branch building at 2000 East Walnut as it was in 2009.
The former Des Moines Branch building was owned by Action Warehouse Co. in 1996.
Memphis, TN
The original branch house for Oliver in Memphis was located at 29 Hotel Street. In 1948, Oliver built a new branch house located at 1020 US Highway 51. The new facility covered 52,000 square feet all on one level and cost $250,000. George Umland was the branch manager when it opened. The open house for the new building was held in September 1948. Inside the branch was an Oliver Retail Store serving the town of Memphis. In 1951, the Memphis branch included the following territory: Mississippi, Alabama, Eastern Louisiana, Northwest Georgia, Southeast Missouri, Western Florida, all of Arkansas except the northwestern part and four counties in the southwestern section, all of Tennessee except the extreme eastern part, and a portion of Kentucky.
The original branch house for Oliver in Memphis was located at 29 Hotel Street. In 1948, Oliver built a new branch house located at 1020 US Highway 51. The new facility covered 52,000 square feet all on one level and cost $250,000. George Umland was the branch manager when it opened. The open house for the new building was held in September 1948. Inside the branch was an Oliver Retail Store serving the town of Memphis. In 1951, the Memphis branch included the following territory: Mississippi, Alabama, Eastern Louisiana, Northwest Georgia, Southeast Missouri, Western Florida, all of Arkansas except the northwestern part and four counties in the southwestern section, all of Tennessee except the extreme eastern part, and a portion of Kentucky.
Photo of the new Oliver Branch House from September 1948.
The former Oliver Branch House building along US Highway 51 in Memphis is still standing and shown here in 2024.
Views of the Memphis Branch in 1951 include the receiving dock with tractors be unloaded directly from railcar. Inside the branch, a large display area in the front of the building.
Richmond, VA
Dating back to 1892 with Oliver Chilled Plow Works, the branch house in Richmond, Virginia served Oliver for over 70 years. It was located at 908 Oliver Hill Way in Richmond. In 1919, the main portion of the building was constructed. It served as the branch house in Virginia for Oliver all the way up to 1969 when the location was closed and building sold off. The building was later occupied by Herod Seed and still stands today as a beautifully remodeled apartment building. For information on the building and it's history is available here.
Dating back to 1892 with Oliver Chilled Plow Works, the branch house in Richmond, Virginia served Oliver for over 70 years. It was located at 908 Oliver Hill Way in Richmond. In 1919, the main portion of the building was constructed. It served as the branch house in Virginia for Oliver all the way up to 1969 when the location was closed and building sold off. The building was later occupied by Herod Seed and still stands today as a beautifully remodeled apartment building. For information on the building and it's history is available here.
The former Oliver Branch House in Richmond, VA shown in 2012.
The former branch house building was restored/remodeled in 2021 and is now a beautiful residential housing complex.
Harrisburg, PA
The Oliver branch house in Harrisburg was located at 1420 Mayflower Street.
The Oliver branch house in Harrisburg was located at 1420 Mayflower Street.
The Harrisburg Oliver Branch pictured in the early 1950's showing the loading dock.
Additional Branch House Addresses:
Dallas, TX: 1616 Cockrell Street
South Bend, IN: 533 South Chapin, then at 1115 W. Sample Street
Harrisburg, PA: 1420 Mayflower Street
Oklahoma City, OK: 543 SW 9th Street
Oakland, CA: 1066 47th Ave
Los Angeles, CA: 2900 East 11th St
Lansing, MI: 3001 N. Dewitt Road
Portland, OR: 181st Ave & Halsey Street
Memphis, TN: 29 Hotel Street then 1020 US Highway 51
Richmond, VA: 908 Oliver Hill Way
Dallas, TX: 1616 Cockrell Street
South Bend, IN: 533 South Chapin, then at 1115 W. Sample Street
Harrisburg, PA: 1420 Mayflower Street
Oklahoma City, OK: 543 SW 9th Street
Oakland, CA: 1066 47th Ave
Los Angeles, CA: 2900 East 11th St
Lansing, MI: 3001 N. Dewitt Road
Portland, OR: 181st Ave & Halsey Street
Memphis, TN: 29 Hotel Street then 1020 US Highway 51
Richmond, VA: 908 Oliver Hill Way
Listing of Oliver branches and distributors from the early 1960s.