Originally published to facebook.com/NorthPlattePL on September 23, 2022.
Welcome back to another Facebook Friday History!
Today’s Facebook Friday History looks an old building that is still easily recognizable as one of its most famous business, the Wilcox-Hinman Service Station or The Motor Inn, located at 301 East 4th Street (now Sherwin Williams and KODY Radio).
Allison Wesley Wilcox was born December 11, 1889 in North Platte, Nebraska to Wesley Thomas (1856-1943) and Minnie Alice (Dabney) (1868-1947) Wilcox.
In 1913, Allison Wilcox married Ella Grace Payne (1888-1974). Together, they had two children:
- a daughter, Almira Payne (Wilcox) Kawal (1914-1951); and
- a son, James Allison Wilcox (1916-1972).
After High School, Allison continued his education, pursuing degrees in agriculture at both the University of Nebraska and Colorado State University in Boulder, Colorado. By 1911, he was back working at the Russel Fowles Ranch in Maxwell.
Like many people, during this time-period of history, the invention of the automobile significantly impacted everyone. Allison Wilcox and York Hinman both became fascinated by cars, and became a part of the automobile revolution, eventually opening up the Motor Inn and Wilcox-Hinman Service Station on East 4th Street, North Platte, Nebraska.
The following information is taken from the book “City Bones: Landmarks of North Platte, Nebraska, Second Edition” by Kaycee Anderson and Steve Olson. Published by the Lincoln County Historical Museum. 2012.
“In 1928, Allison Wesley Wilcox announced his plans to build a four story motel with 120 rooms. The structure was to be configured as an L-shaped building.
Somehow, over the following two years, the final plans changed and the finished product was a motel, but not the kind of motel on which he had originally planned.
On April 22, 1930, Wilcox and the grand opening of his new Wilcox Garage Building. The building was L-shaped, but the second floor was designed to park and store cars. The garage could store 150 cars.
The building measured 132 by 122 feet and was formed using brick and steel construction. The cutting edge building was modeled after the latest designs in convenience for garages during that time period.
Not only was the building used as a storage facility for cars, but it was also home to Schierbrock Motor Co., dealer for Willys-Overland Cars. The Hinman Service Station was operated by York Hinman Jr.”
Allison Wesley Wilcox died on July 21, 1978, at age 88. Both he and his wife are buried in the North Platte Cemetery.
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Thank you for reading! See you next week!
