Connections Murals Public Art Project
THE MANUFACTURER

Mural Location:
Classic Car Wash, 711 4th Avenue
South wall

A 1910 Spaulding Manufacturing Company automobile carrying the family of A.J. Brock, DDS, 1911.

Dr. A. J. Brock, DDS, and daughter Beatrice Brock, age 3 1/2, are in the front seat. Mrs. Edith Brock and son Atwood, age 1 1/2, are in the back seat.

Spaulding Manufacturing Company, located at Spring Street and 4th Avenue, was an anchor Grinnell business, at one time the largest vehicle producer west of the Mississippi and a major Grinnell employer. Initially producing carriages and buggies, Spaulding began manufacturing automobiles in 1910 with this two-door model that had a 4-cylinder, 30-horsepower Rutenear motor. The vehicle’s price was $1500.00, equivalent to $49,050 in 2023 dollars.

The Spaulding plant was located on Fourth Avenue between Spring and Center, a couple of blocks north of Edith Renfrow’s family home. Percy Smith, married to Edith Renfrow’s cousin Martha Lucas, worked as a fireman at the Spaulding plant. The Spaulding company closed in 1929.

Today, the Spaulding building houses the City of Grinnell offices and Spaulding Loft apartments. Currently, Grinnell is home to many manufacturers, including Jeld-Wen Windows and Doors, Nidec Motor Corp., Priority Plastics and Latitude Signage and Design.

A project of the Grinnell Area Arts Council.

A special thank you to Classic Car Wash for hosting this mural.
Thank you to Monique Shore for her collaboration.

Support for this project is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Iowa Arts Council, which exists within the Iowa Economic Development Authority, as well as by Grinnell College, the City of Grinnell, Friends of Drake Community Library, Drake Community Library and Grin Cupola.