“LOOK FOR THE CAR ON THE ROOF”
For nearly 100 years that phrase has been used to identify a famous tire shop on Woodward at West Drayton. “Wetmore’s Safety Service” opened in 1928 founded by Roy Calvin Wetmore creating a landmark as famous as the Crow’s Nest!

Ferris Wheel Sign 1956

ASK THE MAN WHO OWNS ONE
New auto dealerships were often the dream of service station owners and Roy must have worked hard to make it happen. He obtained a license to sell new cars in May 1946 and opened his Packard dealership in 1947. In Oct 1947 Packard advertised itself as the first auto company with a completely new line for 1948 still using the tag line “Ask the man who owns one”.

Initially Packard enjoyed post-war success selling 105,000 cars in 1949, just short of their annual production record. But success was short lived and by the early 50s Packard was sputtering. We cannot tell exactly when Wetmore’s sold their last Packard, but the last Packard ad including Wetmore’s was Sept 29, 1953 (by the Oct 12 1953 Packard ad, Wetmore’s was no longer listed).

Roy’s Packard store may have been short-lived, but it left a lasting legacy in Ferndale. Wetmore had hired Frank Lloyd Wright prior to the Packard store launch to make the facility really special. Things did not turn out as planned as you will soon see….

Last Packard Ad Listing Wetmore's - Sept 29, 1953

FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT CONNECTION
There has been much written about Frank Lloyd Wright’s connection to this building. Based upon drawings and documents in books and on file at the museum (some from the current owners of Wetmore’s) it is a solid connection.

In 1947 Roy commissioned a Wright design for his existing business and planned new Packard Dealership. Plans were drawn up for a modernized service center at the corner of Woodward & Drayton that would include a ramp on the second floor with a car placed dramatically on the top edge. This would be over a showroom on the first floor with a revolving turntable displaying the latest Packard.

In the book “Complete Wright 1943-1959” (Taschen), Wetmore’s is listed on page 148 as “Roy Wetmore Car Repair and Showroom, Scheme 1” (Taliesin project # 4726)

In 1949, Pleasant Ridge resident Robert Pond married Ann Wetmore (Daughter of Roy & Ruth) and moved to California. Soon after, Roy & Ruth visited the young couple in California and invited the Ponds to join them on their visit to Taliesin West in Scottsdale. Presumably this was for Roy to review progress on the 1947 design he had commissioned. The Ponds, who were already interested in architecture, were so impressed by what they saw at Taliesin that they worked to join Wright’s fellowship creating a life-long relationship.

“You only got in by a personal interview with Mr. Wright,” Pond said. “He accepted us, and the next June we went to Wisconsin”. They joined the communal existence at Taliesin, spending winters at Taliesin West. “Twelve months a year, seven days a week, you lived there and you worked there” Pond said. Pond remembers Wright coming up to his drafting table with a big wide pencil in hand. Once Mr. Wright made his revisions, Pond started work cleaning up the drawing. Presumably, that is the role Robert Pond played in the 1951 more simplified designs for Wetmore’s

On page 286 of the Taschen book is a “Garage for Roy Wetmore” (Taliesin project #5117) noting the simplified 1951 design shown below.

It seems that Roy Wetmore & Frank Lloyd Write could not agree upon changes that Roy wanted to make, so plans were put in a file somewhere. Most likely the cost to construct such an elaborate facility, the impact to the neighborhood, and Packard’s struggles in the early 50s also helped stall these plans.

The service desk area was remodeled in the “style of Wright” but little remains today. There is a website devoted to the Wright influenced service desk area from a few years ago (link HERE).

In 1954 Pond’s apprenticeship ended with a glowing review from Mr. Wright. The Ponds then jointly served as Mr. Wright’s Architectural consultants on projects such as the Turkel house in Detroit in 1955 and others.

Interestingly, in 2018 Spanish Architect David Romero, worked with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation to illustrate a few unbuilt FLW designs. Inspired by the Guggenheim ramp designs, and 1947 Wetmore’s ramp design, one of the projects was Wetmore’s. The results are stunning, ending up in Architectural Digest and across social media (example HERE). More can be found about this artist - including sale of his prints - HERE

Frank Lloyd Wright’s design for Wetmore’s shall live forever on paper, but unfortunately not at Woodward & West Drayton. Still fascinating to have such a connection to our little town!

Re-Imagined 1947 Design by David Romero in 2018

AN ACTIVE RETIREMENT
After selling the garage, 76 year old Roy decided to “do something”. The Wetmore family had spent 25 Summers in their cottage on Torch lake. Wetmore always believed it needed a golf course so he built“A-Ga-Ming” (Native American for “Beside the Lake” or “At the Shore” suggested by his Daughter Jane).

While chomping on a cigar in 1972 he pulled trees and dug 3 ponds in a bulldozer he purchased since he could not rent one. He bought the biggest dozer available and named it “Herkimer”. He had a few helpers who were not up to the task, so had to do the work himself. He was stuck so deep at times that he thought about just burying the dozer and dream. But eventually was able to hire a team with dredges and earth movers to get back on track.

The course opened in 1976 and enjoyed commercial success. It was sold to subsequent developers and is a world-class resort operating today HERE.

FAMILY BUSINESS WOVEN INTO FERNDALE FABRIC
The Wetmore family was continually active in Ferndale, supporting countless fund raising, social, and school activities. They had two Daughters, Jane and Alice-Ann, in Ferndale schools who were often in the paper doing good deeds.

Roy sold the business in 1969 on a land contract that fell through. He then sold the business to Bud Lynch and his Family in 1975. Bud ran things until turning the business over to his Son Chris who runs the business today.

Both families have been generous supporters of Ferndale and our events year after year. Ferndale is proud to have such an iconic family-run business approaching their 100th anniversary in our town!