Before becoming governor of Massachusetts in 1925, Alvan T. Fuller established one of the top automobile dealerships in the country.
From his flagship spot on Commonwealth Avenue in Boston, Fuller first sold Packards, then Cadillacs and other makes. His salesmanship included promotional events on Washington’s Birthday, later Presidents Day, said to be the origin of what became a major sales day in the auto industry.
In 1919, as part of a larger expansion, Fuller opened a Packard dealership in Worcester. His company had a 40-year presence in the city. The dealership is shown in this week’s Then photo, from 1959, not long after it closed…