The Stimler Ford Garage carried a very large stock of Ford Car parts in the year 1929 when this picture was taken. The large brick building built in 1911 oon the Northeast corner of John Street and Fourth Avenue was the largest and one of the best equipped garages with Ford Car Dealership in Central Minnesota. The office of the business was located in the front of the part of the building adjoining the parts department and was equipped with glass show cases, a leather couch and chairs for customers' comfort and a display and writing table in the center of the office room with steel spring chairs.
Pictured in the Parts Department of the Ford Agency in 1929 from (left to right) were: Rube Stimler, Harry Burns, Benton County Attorney, Robert "Bob" Lloyd, Tony Stimler the owner and Florence Stimler, one of his daughters. Rube Stimler was a son of the owner of the garage and Ford Dealership and was the head mechanic and repair man of the department which was located in the back part of the building. Harry Burns was elected County Attorney in 1928 when prohibition and bootleggers played an important part in the election of the County Attorney. Burns defeated County Attorney E. W. Swenson, who was over zealous in enforcing the prohibition law which Burns was much more lenient and found many friends among the people who opposed the strict enforcement of the Prohibition Laws. Burns was re-elected County Attorney in 1932 and then ran for County Attorney in Stearns County, two years later and was elected there in a surprising election. Robert Lloyd was employed as helper in the Ford Garage. He was the son of Robert Lloyd, Sr., one of the early families that settled in Foley before the town was incorporated. Tony Stimler, the owner of the Ford Garage, came to Foley from Duelm and started a blacksmith shop which he operated next to the Foley Locker site before building the garage in 1911. Florence Stimler, a daughter, was employed as bookkeeper for the Ford Agency.
The Stimler home was located across the street north of the Brian Thompson residence and the original home building was moved from Duelm. In the year 1917 Tony Stimler announced the opening of the first Used Car Lot in Foley with 9 Overlands, 4 Fords, and 2 Mitchells for sale. In 1920 the firm began advertising autos and tractors, also a Ford production. The Stimler Ford Agency was a flourishing business until the depression of 1930 hit many business firms and the building and agency was sold to Leninger. Land O' Lakes eventually bought the building for a Dry Milk Plant during World War II.

-- from "Picture Story of Early Foley Days"
Benton County News, Foley, Benton County, Minnesota
Photo provided by Richard Bettendorf Theatre Collection