The Theocrat

ZION FIRMS AND
PROFESSIONAL MEN

Ward T. Minors

The Modernaire Sales Engineering Service, designed to provide a diversified service to the community, is owned and operated by Ward Minors at 2924 Sheridan Road.

Not only is the Modernaire equipped to handle all commercial and industrial phases, but also offers a complete service for the home, office, etc.

In his place of business Ward repairs everything from home fixtures and appliances to the largest type air conditioning plants. The quality of his work is backed up by a thorough training gained through long hours of study and practical experience in this intricate type of work.

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WARD MINORS

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Although Ward was a jack of all trades in his early youth and tried everything from farming to peddling newspapers, he finally launched his present technical career in 1938, when he gained employment as a repairman and salesman for Walter DePew at the Dunes Appliance store on South Sheridan Road.

Started With Dunes Store

While employed at the Dunes store, Ward became familiar with the Philco Gas company equipment and a few months later became affiliated with the company at their large Mitchell Radio and Appliance store in Rockford.

After a few months of specialized training at the Crosley branch factory at Sterling, Ward returned to Rockford as manager of the Mitchell Service department and finally was appointed head of the service department for the entire Rockford area.

Shortly after Pearl Harbor, Minor left the Philco Company to accept a position with the Gustav A. Larson wholesale distributors and was placed in charge of the Rockford branch, handling the wholesale distribution of all refrigeration supplies and equipment.

Assisted War Effort

It was while affiliated with the Larson concern during the war years that he had the opportunity to assist several of the War Industries in the area and, through his knowledge, contributed materially toward the successful prosecution of the war, providing pertinent information that was used to good advantage in the manufacture of precision war instruments.

At the close of the war he became attached to the Kelvinator Corporation at Minneapolis, Minn., and then finally accepted employment with the Airo Supply Company of Chicago in one of the World's largest refrigeration and air-conditioning supplies houses.

While with the Airo company he became sales engineer in refrigeration and air conditioning and in this capacity covered the entire Chicago and Northshore area, handling both industrial and domestic trade. His technical knowledge also was put to use as a lecturer and during his tenure with Airo he lectured graduating classes at the Chicago Technical college and the Utilities Engineering Institute on the finer points of refrigeration.

Married May 29, 1946

Shortly after his return to this area Ward became re-acquainted with the former Miss Helen Douglas, one of the Douglas twins, and they were married at the Lutheran Church in Chicago on May 29, 1946. Mr. and Mrs. Minor celebrated their third wedding anniversary last Sunday with relatives in Milwaukee. They have a son, John Wesley, who was born May 26, 1947.

Ward left the Airo company to go into business for himself last December and opened his local shop here in the basement of his home, 1705 Ravine Drive in January and then opened his present downtown shop at 2924 Sheridan Road in February.

Reverting to the childhood of Minor, it is discovered that his parents were among the early residents of Zion and his father and mother, the former Miss Gertrude Weed, met accidentally at romantic Niagara Falls during the New York Visitation and this chance acquaintance led to their marriage in Zion on April 18, 1906, with Dr. John Alexander Dowie performing the ceremonies.

Helped Build Zion

Ward's father has the distinction of being among the early builders in the community and helped to construct many of the present land marks including the Zion Hotel (Zion Home), the Administration Building, the Zion Department Stores and many of the early homes.

As a young married couple, Ward's parents first lived in Waukegan, due to the housing shortage in the city in those early days, and later constructed their present home in Section 17 at 1728 Horeb Avenue. It was here that Ward, Jr., was born, the oldest boy of nine children, on November 29, 1909.

In 1912, three years after his birth, Ward's parents and family moved to Freeport, Illinois, where Mr. Minor went to assist his brother in the construction of a brush factory and later helped to install the machinery in the plant.

It was at Freeport that Ward started his elementary education in 1915.

The family returned to Zion in 1918 and Ward continued his education at the old 21st Street school and finally was graduated from the old 31st street school in the spring of 1924.

Peddled Papers

Like so many youngsters in the community, Ward devoted his spare time delivering newspapers to residents in the northern section of the community and operated the newspaper agency from the Salem Depot. It was at the same time that Bicket and Ingram handled the downtown agency.

Local residents will recall the big subscription campaign staged by the Waukegan Times in which William J. Bicket captured first prize and a brand new automobile. Though Ward failed to land such a lucrative prize, he did win several attractive prizes, including a new bicycle, two coaster wagon, a baseball uniform and several other awards.

Following his graduation from the 31st Street school, Minor became interested in aviation and attended the Greer College of Aeronautics in Chicago for two years, where he gained some knowledge in practical aviation, specializing in mechanics and engineering.

Unable to put his new found knowledge into immediate practice, however, Ward turned to the soil for a livelihood, renting a 14-acre tract of farming land near Lafayette, Indiana, where he operated an experimental truck farm in conjunction with the Purdue University.

A Farm Experiment

It was reclaimed soil, a marshland, which had been drained off and put under cultivation. The purpose of this experiment was to determine the technical results of produce raised on this land and his entire crop was sold to the University.

Ward reports that the results, though severely affected by any sudden change in the weather, often were astounding. Among the phenomenal results were heads of cabbage that would fill a bushel basket and Missouri beans which grew in great quantities and were sometimes a foot in length.

Although this work appealed to Ward, the remunerative returns were often discouraging and, after 6 years, he gave up the project and returned home to establish the Minor Brothers Trucking Company, going into business with his brother, Henry, who later lost his life in an auto-train crash.

Minor Brothers Trucking Company

The Minor Brothers operated a fleet of trucks and help to transport much of the building materials during the building boom of that time and they helped to deliver materials for the contractors constructing the Elmwood and Lakeview schools. They also delivered road materials for the Zion Street Department.

At the same time the brothers operated two service stations, one on Sheridan Road and Belvidere in Waukegan and the other at the old Andy Hill station in Winthrop Harbor. Besides providing for the general motoring public, these stations also provided facilities for the upkeep of the trucks.

In 1938 Ward gave up the trucking business and launched his present career as a refrigerator man, working as a salesman and repairman on the Philco equipment at the Dunes Appliance store.

Well Equipped

At his present location, 2924 Sheridan Road, Ward is equipped to service and install refrigerators and air conditioning of all types for all business and domestic needs, and as well has the sales franchise for commercial and industrial air conditioning, home freezers and locker plants.

Ward is a member of the Zion Chamber of Commerce and, since 1942, has been a member of the Refrigeration Service Engineers Society. He is a state board director of the society, and is also on the board of directors of the Great Lakes Chapter, as well as educational chairman. This office is located in Waukegan.

Ward's chief hobbies are fishing and hunting, but, due to his present heavy load of work, he finds little opportunity to follow his avocations.

This is the 55th article in this series, presenting to our readers the life stories of local business and professional men. These articles are prepared by Carl L. Huth and Dan Loblaw for THE THEOCRAT and THE COMMUNITY