Northern Motors sold

Dagenais-owned Riverside makes purchase

By Dionna Harris
ESCANABA— Eighty-four years and two owners later, Ford automotive dealer Northern Motor Co. of Escanaba has been sold.

Founded in 1923 by the Norton family of Gladstone, it was purchased in 1947 by the late Percy Rosemurgy. On Friday Dagenais Enterprises will take ownership of the company after purchasing it from Percy’s son, Steve.

Employees of the business were notified of the sale Tuesday.

Northern Motor Co. has always been located at its present location, 1419 Ludington St. In its rich history it saw the final assembly of Ford Model A’s in the basement, Controller Tom Sinnaeve said this morning.

“There is a ramp going into the basement, where the Ford Model A’s were assembled before being placed out on the lot,” he said.

Sinnaeve also noted the building at one time housed Northern Rebuilders, which rebuilt Ford engines, until being purchased by Cloverland Manufacturing. Dagneais Enterprises also owns Riverside Chevrolet, Riverside Auto Sales and Riverside Town and Country in Escanaba as well as other auto dealerships in the U.P. and Wisconsin.

The American auto industry has been experiencing difficult times, especially Ford Motors which experienced record losses.