News: Medford - Chrysler Ownership Change (July 12, 2018)

Transcriber: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
 
Surnames: Harris, Knight, Marcott, Mertens, Pope, Stuttgen, Wood

----Source: The Star News (Medford, WI) 7/12/2018

It is the end of one era for the Medford area and the beginning of a new one as Mertens Chrysler of Medford transitions to a new ownership.

According to Mitch Mertens, with his brother Tom retiring from the business he looked at options and is merging with a dealership group that owns Chrysler dealerships n Colby and New Richmond.

Mertens said the biggest change customers will see as they visit the dealership will be the change in name to Medford Chrysler. He said the same high quality service people have relied on for generations will continue with the current technicians remaining on staff.

While Mitch Mertens will remain involved with the company, he will transition to an office role and be based in Colby rather than in Medford. A manager will run the Medford Chrysler location.

Mertens has been a familiar name in automotive needs for more than seven decades. The company was started by Albert Mertens in Dorchester in 1944. They began handling Chrysler products June 1949. Albert’s son Dennis joined his father in the company in 1952 after graduating from Dorchester High School.

Mertens came to Medford in 1966 with the opening of a new building built by Pennisula Construction Co. of Schofield at their present Highway 13 location on June 23, 1966, with a flower given to all the women attending the opening and refreshments served. When it opened in Medford, the staff included salesman LaVerne Wood, bookkeeper Orlean Pope and mechanics Tony Stuttgen, William Knight, Rusty Harris and Gary Marcott.

Dennis Mertens retired from the business several years ago and it has been run by brothers Tom and Mitch since then. On July 16, it will officially transfer to the new ownership.