This digital story recording was created in conjunction with the Smithsonian's Museum on Main Street program and its Stories from Main Street student documentary initiative, called "Stories: Yes." The project encourages students and their mentors to research and record stories about small-towns and rural neighborhoods, waterways, personal memories, cultural traditions, work histories, as well as thoughts about American democracy. These documentaries are then shared on Smithsonian websites and social media.
Students at Elkton High School in Cecil County, Maryland, worked with the Cecil County Arts Council, the Cecil County Historical Society, and the Cecil County Public Library, Maryland, to produce this series of oral histories with area residents about everything from local businesses to the history of segregation, as told by Charles Givens (pictured).
Speaker 1 (00:06): How are you, Dr. Devine?
Dr. D’Ette Devine (00:06): Doing very well. Thank you.
Speaker 1 (00:09): Good. I have a couple questions for you here. So just answer them to the best of your knowledge. I'm assured that you already read over most of these.
Dr. D’Ette Devine (00:15): I did.
Speaker 1 (00:15): Okay. So what has your experience been like with the Williams Chevrolet business? Which is your brother's business, your family's business to my knowledge.
Dr. D’Ette Devine (00:24): Basically, it is as a family business. As a child, I grew up with my father beginning his own business, and that has developed into the Williams Family Auto Mall today. It actually began in 1947 with my uncle, Frank Williams, who began Williams Motors. And then my dad opened Anchor Pontiac and Buick in 1962. After that Williams Chevrolet came along, he acquired that as well as Bayshore Auto. There were three sort of what you'd call mom and pop car dealerships in the town of Elkton. And then my brothers and my first cousin, that would be Frank, Tom, David, and Barry, moved the dealership, consolidated the business and moved it out to Route 40. I think it's been 10 years or 12 years that it's been on Route 40. So now it's Anchor Buick because Pontiac is no longer made. Williams Chevrolet and the Williams Used Car. And they all sit on the same property.
Speaker 1 (01:30): Question number two, have any significance in the past that you would know of, you know, your family business, how has it affected your business?
Dr. D’Ette Devine (01:37): Well, obviously the economy is very important and the sale of American-made automobiles. And when the economy did a downturn, obviously there was concern about that, when General Motors was in such difficulty, but they weathered that storm. And part of the reason is the economy of scale, bringing all the businesses together in one location, was very, very wise and to the family's advantage.
Speaker 1 (02:02): How has the family business, like, as you were saying about how it consolidated into one company, moving to Route 40, how has it like built to fit the community of Elkton? Because like you said, it's been around here for like ever.
Dr. D’Ette Devine (02:13): Right, well, although they became what would be a much larger enterprise, the family has a slogan, the Williams Way, and the Williams Way means that you treat your customers fairly, with respect, obviously you make your income from that, but you do so as a responsible member of the community. And my entire family has given back to the community. My dad was active in little league for many, many years and all of the family is involved in different community events and charities.
Asset ID: 2022.21.01
Find a complete transcript: www.museumonmainstreet.org
