My wife and I took a weekend trip up north to the Lincoln and Enfield area. We hadn't been there for a while and wanted to see if things had changed much and do a little sightseeing. There has been some recent changes on Main Street that are quite nice. Most notably, there is a large gazebo at the head of Mattanawcook lake as you drive into town with a nice park-like setting with a nice view of the lake. It was a beautiful spot. One thing hadn't changed, though. You can still smell that mill. We spent some time on Cold Stream Pond, too. We have both always loved that lake and after seeing it this weekend, we still do. What a beautiful place!
We spent some time around the Penobscot river also. It was nice to see that the river, although not as good as it should be, has certainly cleaned up a lot. It seems to be getting a lot more recreational use as well. The Penobscot has always had a special place in our hearts and we wish only the best for the river.
We took a 2010 Ford Fusion with the 2.5L 4 cylinder engine and got 37.9 mpg highway and 36.4 mpg average for the trip. The Fusion is a comfortable, passenger friendly car that provides a viable alternative to the smaller cars with less room. Our dog, Sara, likes it too.
It was nice being back in our old stomping grounds for the weekend and my wife and I have decided to go back again in a few years. I don't care if some things change, as long as the lake stays as clean and beautiful as it has always been.
Thanks for reading,
Don Tibbetts
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
A funny thing happened while passing a couple of cars
There has been quite a bit of interest in the new 3.5L Ecoboost V6. One day last week this guy comes in asking about a new truck and we end up talking about the Ecoboost in the new F-150. He thinks I might be overstating the engine's capabilities and decides he wants to take it for a test drive. The truck also had Sync Voice Activated systems on it, but we hadn't talked about that too much yet. So he takes the truck for a ride and decides to see how it'll accelerate. He steps on it, pulls out and passes a couple of cars that had been in front of him. He looks down and sees he's doing 90 and then the truck talks to him! It asked him if he had an emergency?!! He didn't know what the heck to make of that, so he came back to the dealership, tells me what happened and asked me what the h#&% that was all about!! I couldn't help but laugh as I'm trying to explain about the Sync systems and I still laugh every time I think of it.
Everyone I've told the story to has found it amusing and I hope you do, too.
Catch you later,
Don Tibbetts
Everyone I've told the story to has found it amusing and I hope you do, too.
Catch you later,
Don Tibbetts
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Sync Services and MyFord Touch
Do you have a Ford, Lincoln or Mercury vehicle with Sync Voice Activated Systems or MyFord/MyLincoln Touch and aren't sure how to use it or don't know if you're getting the most out of it? Maybe I can help.
Let me, Don Tibbetts, know when you want to come in, then bring your vehicle to Ripley & Fletcher Ford and I'll help you set up an account on syncmyride.com, set your preferences there, then pair your phone, activate your 911 Assist and Vehicle Health Report and show you how to access Sync Services. It's really a great system, so why not get the most out of it! I'll be glad to help.
If you're considering a new vehicle, please consider a Ripley & Fletcher Ford with the Sync Voice Activated System. The basic Sync without the touch screen is just a $395 option and it still gives you total hands free phone interface, 911 Assist, Vehicle Health Report and Traffic, Directions and Information through Sync Services. It's free for the first three years and only costs $60 dollars a year after that. $60 dollars a YEAR!! I think it's the best bargain out there for getting state of the art technology at a great price.
I hope to hear from you soon!
Thanks,
Don Tibbetts
Let me, Don Tibbetts, know when you want to come in, then bring your vehicle to Ripley & Fletcher Ford and I'll help you set up an account on syncmyride.com, set your preferences there, then pair your phone, activate your 911 Assist and Vehicle Health Report and show you how to access Sync Services. It's really a great system, so why not get the most out of it! I'll be glad to help.
If you're considering a new vehicle, please consider a Ripley & Fletcher Ford with the Sync Voice Activated System. The basic Sync without the touch screen is just a $395 option and it still gives you total hands free phone interface, 911 Assist, Vehicle Health Report and Traffic, Directions and Information through Sync Services. It's free for the first three years and only costs $60 dollars a year after that. $60 dollars a YEAR!! I think it's the best bargain out there for getting state of the art technology at a great price.
I hope to hear from you soon!
Thanks,
Don Tibbetts
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Ripley & Fletcher Ford is glad to be here
As many of you have heard, John Emerson, who owns Emerson Chevrolet, was involved in negotiations to buy Ripley & Fletcher and convert us to Emerson Ford. While both parties negotiated in good faith, it just was not meant to be. For various reasons, negotiations broke down and we are remaining under our current ownership. RIPLEY & FLETCHER FORD IS STILL HERE!!! We are ready to serve the automotive needs of our local, and not-so-local communities with new and used, customer focused, auto sales, top shelf service of fine Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and other vehicles, a well stocked parts department and capable body shop. As always, we are here to serve our communities and loyal customers. We want your business and we'll earn it, one customer at a time. All we ask from you is your continued support. All we ask is a chance. Before you drive miles away, come see us!! You won't be disappointed!
We have made a few changes that we want our customers and communities to know about. Our previous Sales Manager has moved on to another opportunity. Our new Sales Manager is Tracy Knight and she's really getting into her new position trying to increase our new and used inventory (hopefully, you've noticed). We are also working on our website to improve accessability and make it more fun and interesting to use. We are continuing to work with our Facebook page and currently have a new 2010 Fusion Sport as our "June Facebook Special". Check it out!! Check it all out!! Also, keep watching us. We'll try to make it interesting and worthwhile.
Thanks,
Don Tibbetts
We have made a few changes that we want our customers and communities to know about. Our previous Sales Manager has moved on to another opportunity. Our new Sales Manager is Tracy Knight and she's really getting into her new position trying to increase our new and used inventory (hopefully, you've noticed). We are also working on our website to improve accessability and make it more fun and interesting to use. We are continuing to work with our Facebook page and currently have a new 2010 Fusion Sport as our "June Facebook Special". Check it out!! Check it all out!! Also, keep watching us. We'll try to make it interesting and worthwhile.
Thanks,
Don Tibbetts
Friday, November 5, 2010
The Ripley & Fletcher Family
Caring and faithful people have always been a prominent asset to Ripley & Fletcher. In 1914, Bert Cole and Ralph Tracey Pierce came into the Ripley & Fletcher family.
Now, another faithful associate of Perley Ripley enters the story. For five years, Irving Barrows was the youngest treasurer of a bank in the State of Maine and New England. In 1915, Irving took a leave of absence from the Paris Trust Company because he was not feeling well and needed to improve his health. He bought a pair of oxen that had just won a ribbon at the Lewiston State Fair, and Irving worked his oxen in the woods all winter for his father, Oscar Barrows. The next spring, Irving helped his father build many houses in South Paris. One of the houses is 13 Barrows Street, which was the house made especially for Irving. He took his bride, Ada Turner, there in 1915.
Perley Ripley was President of the locally-owned Paris Trust Company of which Irving was the Treasurer again after his leave of absence.
In 1935, Mr. Ripley asked Irving how much longer he intended to work at the bank. Irving's reply was "Until you take me out." Perley offered Irving the management of the oil burner business at Ripley & Fletcher. Actually, it was a subtle way of getting Irving involved in learning the whole Ripley & Fletcher Company business. Irving took the job.
In 1936, Ken Bagley from South Portland came to work for Mr. Ripley at Ripley Motors, now located on Forest Avenue in Portland. When Ripley Motors was sold in 1938, Ken was sent to the Bridgton store as assistant to James McNutt.
Mr. McNutt's real livelihood was lumbering. It seems that Mr. McNutt was using Perley's dealer plates on his lumber trucks, which did not exactly please Mr. Ripley after he found out about it. It became Irving Barrow's responsibility to inform Mr. McNutt that Mr. Ripley wanted to make some changes - namely to let McNutt go. Ken became General Manager, but World War II was imminent. At the end of the year in 1941, Ken and his wife, Marion, went home to South Portland. Ken worked in the shipyard at South Portland until September, 1944.
In 1942, Mr. Ripley closed the Bridgton store and sold the building to the town of Bridgton.
In 1944, Ken Bagley came to the Ripley & Fletcher store in South Paris as Service Manager. Hal Fletcher was Parts Manager and Howard McAlister was Sales Manager.
Iona Chapman and Marion Bagley worked in the office. Marion told this story: "Mr. Ripley was in the habit of stepping along to the cash drawer and removing as much money as he needed for his current activity - golfing, betting on the horses, whatever. This certainly hampered us girls from cashing up on the button at the end of the day. One day, Iona asked Mr. Ripley if he would just as soon write down the amount of money he removed from the cash register. A dumbfounded expression came over Perley's face. It had never occurred to him that he was fouling up our bookkeeping."
On August 13th, 1945, Perley Ripley died in the hospital from heart complications which had hospitalized him for several weeks.
I'll pick the story up from here next time. Thanks for reading.
Don
Now, another faithful associate of Perley Ripley enters the story. For five years, Irving Barrows was the youngest treasurer of a bank in the State of Maine and New England. In 1915, Irving took a leave of absence from the Paris Trust Company because he was not feeling well and needed to improve his health. He bought a pair of oxen that had just won a ribbon at the Lewiston State Fair, and Irving worked his oxen in the woods all winter for his father, Oscar Barrows. The next spring, Irving helped his father build many houses in South Paris. One of the houses is 13 Barrows Street, which was the house made especially for Irving. He took his bride, Ada Turner, there in 1915.
Perley Ripley was President of the locally-owned Paris Trust Company of which Irving was the Treasurer again after his leave of absence.
In 1935, Mr. Ripley asked Irving how much longer he intended to work at the bank. Irving's reply was "Until you take me out." Perley offered Irving the management of the oil burner business at Ripley & Fletcher. Actually, it was a subtle way of getting Irving involved in learning the whole Ripley & Fletcher Company business. Irving took the job.
In 1936, Ken Bagley from South Portland came to work for Mr. Ripley at Ripley Motors, now located on Forest Avenue in Portland. When Ripley Motors was sold in 1938, Ken was sent to the Bridgton store as assistant to James McNutt.
Mr. McNutt's real livelihood was lumbering. It seems that Mr. McNutt was using Perley's dealer plates on his lumber trucks, which did not exactly please Mr. Ripley after he found out about it. It became Irving Barrow's responsibility to inform Mr. McNutt that Mr. Ripley wanted to make some changes - namely to let McNutt go. Ken became General Manager, but World War II was imminent. At the end of the year in 1941, Ken and his wife, Marion, went home to South Portland. Ken worked in the shipyard at South Portland until September, 1944.
In 1942, Mr. Ripley closed the Bridgton store and sold the building to the town of Bridgton.
In 1944, Ken Bagley came to the Ripley & Fletcher store in South Paris as Service Manager. Hal Fletcher was Parts Manager and Howard McAlister was Sales Manager.
Iona Chapman and Marion Bagley worked in the office. Marion told this story: "Mr. Ripley was in the habit of stepping along to the cash drawer and removing as much money as he needed for his current activity - golfing, betting on the horses, whatever. This certainly hampered us girls from cashing up on the button at the end of the day. One day, Iona asked Mr. Ripley if he would just as soon write down the amount of money he removed from the cash register. A dumbfounded expression came over Perley's face. It had never occurred to him that he was fouling up our bookkeeping."
On August 13th, 1945, Perley Ripley died in the hospital from heart complications which had hospitalized him for several weeks.
I'll pick the story up from here next time. Thanks for reading.
Don
Friday, October 15, 2010
Continuing the Ripley & Fletcher Story
Originally, a hotel sat on the Ripley & Fletcher Company property. The train stop and station across the street at South Paris induced the property owners to build the Grand Trunk Hotel, which had an overpass across the street to the station. Before the hotel burned in the late 1890's it was known as the Paris House.
In 1915, a new building was built at the present location on the hotel site. Ripley & Fletcher was a 50 X 100 foot building of cement blocks and was one of the show places of the two towns. Bert Cole helped build it.
In 1920, a fifty-foot addition of three stories was built, providing space for a salesroom, service shop and paint shop. If you know where to look or have someone to tell you, you can still make out the end of the first building and the extension of the main building.
Subsequently, in 1918, Ripley & Fletcher established a second Ford dealership in Bridgton, Maine. It was an extension of the South Paris Ripley & Fletcher store and was managed by James McNutt.
In 1925, Perley became associated with Arthur Cook in Portland, and the Ford dealership became known as Cook, Ripley on Washington Ave. Mr. Ripley maintained an apartment in Portland as well as his home in South Paris.
In 1927, Mr. Ripley purchased Mr. Cook's share of the business and changed the name to Ripley Motors, Inc. At that time, Mr. Ripley was the only dealer in New England holding a Ford Franchise in three separate locations.
Again, I hope you found the story interesting. Check back, there's more to come.
Don
In 1915, a new building was built at the present location on the hotel site. Ripley & Fletcher was a 50 X 100 foot building of cement blocks and was one of the show places of the two towns. Bert Cole helped build it.
In 1920, a fifty-foot addition of three stories was built, providing space for a salesroom, service shop and paint shop. If you know where to look or have someone to tell you, you can still make out the end of the first building and the extension of the main building.
Subsequently, in 1918, Ripley & Fletcher established a second Ford dealership in Bridgton, Maine. It was an extension of the South Paris Ripley & Fletcher store and was managed by James McNutt.
In 1925, Perley became associated with Arthur Cook in Portland, and the Ford dealership became known as Cook, Ripley on Washington Ave. Mr. Ripley maintained an apartment in Portland as well as his home in South Paris.
In 1927, Mr. Ripley purchased Mr. Cook's share of the business and changed the name to Ripley Motors, Inc. At that time, Mr. Ripley was the only dealer in New England holding a Ford Franchise in three separate locations.
Again, I hope you found the story interesting. Check back, there's more to come.
Don
Monday, September 20, 2010
A Lesson on Inflation
From a 1963 article in the Advertiser-Democrat on the early history of Ripley & Fletcher Company, it states: "There were two styles of Fords in those days - touring and tourabout, or roadster. The 1909 Ford was a gleaming vehicle, having a powerful four-cylinder motor, no doors, brass trimmings, carbide lights and bulb horn."
"In 1911, doors were added. The Model A appeared in 1928 and 1932 saw the start of eight-cylinder units. An example of the economy of those Model A's is borne out by the fact that a brand new one was purchased for $500.00, driven nineteen years and sold for $150.00."
In DEALER WORLD, March, 1981, a publication for Ford and Lincoln-Mercury dealers and dealership managers, an article states: "While going through some old records recently, James Bryant, Sales Manager for Ripley & Fletcher Company, Ford dealership in South Paris, Maine, got a lesson in once-upon-a-time inflation rates and a look at how some sales were consummated in Ford dealerships years ago.
"Invoices recording the sale of two new Ford Touring Cars provided Bryant's education. The first car was sold in 1917 by Ripley & Fletcher for $415.30. As part of the deal, the customer got to trade in a horse valued at $150.00. The invoice for the second sale, made six years later in 1923, shows an annual inflation rate back then of about 1-1/3 percent. The second touring car was sold for $448.22, a price increase of just $32.92 in six years." (Editor's note: Bryant says Ripley & Fletcher was established in 1909 and has operated from the same building, with a few changes, for all these years. He closed his letter with this postscript: "We had to have the horse laid away last year.")
I hope you enjoy the story.
Don
"In 1911, doors were added. The Model A appeared in 1928 and 1932 saw the start of eight-cylinder units. An example of the economy of those Model A's is borne out by the fact that a brand new one was purchased for $500.00, driven nineteen years and sold for $150.00."
In DEALER WORLD, March, 1981, a publication for Ford and Lincoln-Mercury dealers and dealership managers, an article states: "While going through some old records recently, James Bryant, Sales Manager for Ripley & Fletcher Company, Ford dealership in South Paris, Maine, got a lesson in once-upon-a-time inflation rates and a look at how some sales were consummated in Ford dealerships years ago.
"Invoices recording the sale of two new Ford Touring Cars provided Bryant's education. The first car was sold in 1917 by Ripley & Fletcher for $415.30. As part of the deal, the customer got to trade in a horse valued at $150.00. The invoice for the second sale, made six years later in 1923, shows an annual inflation rate back then of about 1-1/3 percent. The second touring car was sold for $448.22, a price increase of just $32.92 in six years." (Editor's note: Bryant says Ripley & Fletcher was established in 1909 and has operated from the same building, with a few changes, for all these years. He closed his letter with this postscript: "We had to have the horse laid away last year.")
I hope you enjoy the story.
Don
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