A Business in our town
by: Jennalee Tracy & Val Derouche
HIGHT CHEVROLET AND BUICK (2000)
 
In the year 1910, the Hight dealership began although not in its current location.The original spot was where Cumberland Farms is today. In 1911, they moved the vehicle company to the corner of town where they have been for the past 89 years.
When Toby Hight's great grandfather first began selling Ford vehicles, the Ford dealership had an arrangement; for every truck or car that they received,they had to sell two tractors in return. Mr. Hight was not interested in selling tractors although he wanted to sell vehicles. As a result,he dropped the Ford dealership altogether and took up with Chevrolet and Buick.
Back in the the old days, in the 1910's, nobody knew how to drive. When someone sold a car, the salesperson had to teach the buyer how to drive. One time a local elderly woman was buying a truck and taking driving lessons so she could just drive it right home.As the lady was attempting to shift the truck, she stopped abruptly and drove her front teeth into the front of the radiator! OUCH! The lady still bought the truck, but Mr. Hight had to pay for the dentist bill! Toby told us this, so it must be so!:)
When the company first started, Mr.Hight also owned a grain store and a clothing store. He took up the vehicle business because he knew that it was a new and upcoming thing and he thought that there would be good money to be made in the car field. He also thought that the business would grow at a rate of 5 to 8% percent a year. This turned out to be a good money making business!
At first, there were only a couple of types of cars and trucks. Now, at the dealership they have a full staff of 52 people to take care of all of the business. This includes selling the "best selling vehicle," the Chevrolet Silverado pick-up truck. An estimated 800 to 1000 Chevy Pick-ups are sold each year. They also sell used cars and trucks at Hight's. Amazingly, about the same number of new and used vehicles are sold each year.
Hight Chevrolet and Buick is one of the best dealerships around and it shows! For instance, they won the "Heavy Hitter's Club" in 1987, 1998, and 1999. They also won the "Genuine Leader Award." Congratulations!!
Skowhegan has changed a lot due to new technologies in the world. A car dealership such as Hights has also changed dramatically over the past 89 years.