Douglas Battery & AutoCare
The story began with the wide-eyed curiosity of a boy born in 1901,
who had an intense interest in and fascination with electricity.
Much to the dismay of neighbours, it was not uncommon for the lights
to flicker throughout his Spring Street neighbourhood as he
experimented with motors, starters and batteries in the garage
behind his house.
At the age of 14, Wilson Douglas quit
school and went to work for Duke Power Company where he learned more
about kilowatts, alternating current, power generation and
transmission.
A short time after that, Wilson learned of job
openings with the railroad in Richmond, Virginia. So, as a young
teenager, he set off for Virginia, but again, his curiosity
intervened. As he passed an electrical generator repair shop, he
stopped to peer through the window. The shop owner started talking
with him and was impressed with how much Wilson knew about
kilowatts, amps and generating power. He was asked to stay and work
as an apprentice. Needless to say, Wilson never made it to the
railroad employment office.
Wilson’s fascination with
electricity continued to flourish and after two years as an
apprentice in the small shop in Virginia, Wilson returned home to
Winston-Salem.
In 1917, Wilson got the distributorship for
Hartford Batteries and opened a small retail shop on Third Street.
Soon thoughts turned towards manufacturing and more space was
required. In 1921, moving to a new location on Trade Street, the
first Douglas battery was manufactured, and Douglas Battery
Manufacturing Company was founded.
Although this story has
been the catalyst for the founding of one of the largest battery
manufacturers in the world, Douglas Battery & AutoCare is one of the
largest independent garages in this area. In January 2007, Douglas
Battery & AutoCare was purchased by Jim Douglas (nephew of Wilson
Douglas) and Joe Jarvis (grandson of G C Jarvis founder of Jarvis
Battery Co.). Today we still operate with the integrity and values
that Wilson Douglas Sr. built this company.
See also:
Douglas Battery Manufacturing Co.
Any contributions will be
gratefully accepted
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