Did you know the village of Plenty once had a Ford dealership?

By Joan Janzen

PLENTY - An interesting photo posted on Historic Saskatchewan reveals evidence of a business called Overholt & Stewart Ford Dealers which operated in Plenty, Sask. Wade Farwell who contributed the photo was looking for information about the business.

This photo posted on Historic Saskatchewan is evidence of a garage and Ford dealership that operated in the village of Plenty during the 1930’s. Photo Submitted by Wade Farwell

In the summer of 1929 a cyclone destroyed the front of the garage owned by Walter Overholt. Photo from the history book The Land of Plenty

According to the 1931 Census Walter Overholt was born in 1892 in Southwold, Elgin, Ontario. He died in 1967 and is buried in Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Saskatoon. The pages of the history book ‘The Land of Plenty’ revealed more information about the garage owner.

Walter arrived in Plenty in April of 1928, with a carload of settlers’ effects and a few animals. He purchased a garage from Ole Ristad, and had some bad luck when a cyclone destroyed the front of the building in the summer of 1929.

After rebuilding the front of the building, he took over the Red & White Grocery Store and moved it in front of the garage. His report in the history book says he was milking five cows which he took in as payment on accounts at the store during the 1930’s. Along with operating the garage, he supplied and delivered milk to the village of Plenty. Later he sold the garage to Jimmie McMaster, and in subsequent years it was operated by John G. Steacy.