COMPANY HISTORY

The original Dodge dealers were M.E. Biery and J.W. McCord, who according to Karl Wheeler, began in 1912 at 32 North Arch Street. They incorporated as the Central Motor Car Co. Karl Wheeler went with them in 1914. McCord withdrew and the company was reorganized about 1920 as the M.E. Biery Motor Car Co. Wheeler took over in 1929 and operated the agency for about five years when it was taken over in 1933 by Joe Sarchione & Son.

Joe Sarchione was an outstanding example of an American success story, and of the opportunities open under the free enterprise system to any person with character, ambition and willingness to work. Joe came to this country from Italy at the age of nine years, without money or friends. His first Job at the age of 15 was that of messenger boy for a clothing company. He had a boyhood ambition to be a machinist in the Erie Railroad Shop at Jersey City, N.J. He worked for the B. & O., the Illinois Central and the Pennsylvania railroads, and in 1920 became engine inspector at the Pennsylvania shops at Canton. Every locomotive had to pass his inspections.

Joe married Fannie Carvella an is the father of Mary, Joe, Eugene, Elizabeth, Angelle, Mildred, Harry and John. In 1917, while still engaged in railroading, he came to Alliance and opened a service station on East Patterson and Mahoning Ave.

Resigning his railroad position in 1920, he organized and incorporated the Mahoning Auto-Sales and Service Co., and sold Flint, Columbia and Hupmobile automobiles until 1933 when he took over the Dodge. His four sons, Joe Jr., Harry, Eugene and John, worked into the business. The first show room and garage were remodeled and enlarged several times.

In 1939 Sarchione built a modern show room and garage at 130 W. State St. He was a pioneer in the Union region, having established a Shell oil filling station there some years previously. In 1947 he enlarged the Mt. Union building, with a modern storage and service building, 120 by 120 feet, making his plant one of the outstanding service plants in the country.

In December 1941 Sarhione's and the rest of the nation was hit with a major disaster, war. There were no cars or trucks available from 1942 till 1946. All four of Sarhione's sons went to war in Europe and the Pacific. Joe Sarchione Sr. and his daughter, Mary, worked on vehicles and sold household appliances to keep his business operational. After the war the boys came home and went to work for Sarchione & Sons and Mahoning Auto. In 1957 Plymouth and Dodge separated. Dodge went up on State Street and Plymouth stayed on Patterson Street in the original building.

Chrysler, Desoto and Imperial were added in the 60's. Sarchione's was Alliance leading auto dealer through the 50's, 60's, and 70's. Then with the economy turn down and a near bankrupt Chrysler Corporation, Sarchione & Sons and Mahoning Auto Sales ceased the new car sales in 1981.

In 1982 Harry Sarchione Sr. and his three children, Harry Jr., Bonnie, and Joe, opened an automotive sales lot on Union Ave. It was named Sarchione Inc. and is still operating today. In 1984 Joe Sarchione sold his shares of Sarchione Inc. and opened Sarchione Sales & Service Inc. on Bayard Road in Homeworth. In 1985 Joe and his wife, Annette purchased the former Park Auto Drive-In Theater and sold automobiles for eleven years at that location until selling it and purchasing the current location in 1996. Sales were always rising every year until September 2001 when Sarchione and the rest of the nation was hit with a major disaster, war with terrorism. Car and truck sales hit bottom with uncertain times. Joe and Annette made a bold move with the current inventory of about 20 vehicles, they expanded it to 70 to 80 vehicles. Most businesses were cutting back. The Sarchione family decided to go all out and buy which they did with their two sons, Joe Jr. and John. Their daughter, Carvella came on board in 2002 and then joined the US Army. Carvella has since returned from Iraq and is working at Sarchione Auto Sales. The youngest son, Jeff, is currently a midshipman at the US Naval Academy.

SARCHIONES AUTO SALES TODAY

Sarchione Sales has made bold purchases and expansions in the last 5 years, having over 7 acres at their use. Come visit our new 100x80 foot showroom and sales facility. Bold expansions are coming in the fall of 2007 and into 2008.