History of Harley’s Garage

By VERNON ROBISON

The Progress

This week, Guillen Heating, Cooling and Refrigeration is moving to a new office at 272 W. Mesquite Blvd. But that location is not new to the city. In fact, it has a rich business history going back to the late 1940s. It is the site of Harley’s Garage, an important automotive repair business in town for more than 50 years.

Harley Leavitt started the business back in September of 1946 after returning home from serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

The original garage had two stalls but no doors on them. Harley kept his tools on his mom’s front porch next door. He would carry them to work each day. A garage door was eventually added with a wooden pulley system to provide a more security.

Eventually the family built a home next door to the west of the garage on property now occupied by the Mesquite Plaza. There was a nightbell installed at the door to the garage. Late night travellers who needed help with their cars could pull up to the garage and ring the bell which would buzz over to Harley’s bedroom. Then he would get up and see what he could do for them.

In the early 1960s, the garage received a significant expansion. At about that time, the Tri-State Mine went out of business. Located in the Bunkerville (Virgin) Mountains to the south of town, the mine site had a large metal building being used as an equipment shop. Harley purchased the building. Then the work began.

Harley and a group of friends went up the mountain and methodically dismantled the shed, labeling each part as they went. They loaded the parts onto trailers and transported them down the mountain to be reassembled at Harley’s Garage. That building, with various additions still stands on the site today.

Harley ran the shop for decades, providing reliable and honest automotive service to the community and to travellers. He passed away in 1985 at which time his son Hal took over the business.

Hal then ran it for over 20 years, until his death in 2006, leaving the shop to his wife Tammy. She continued to operate the business until August of 2008,  when it was then closed. An era had passed.

The family leased the property to several shop owners over the years.

Last fall, after the shop had sat vacant for a time, the family decided to sell the parcel to Jose Guillen for his new business location.

Information from this story was gathered from an interview with Elspeth Kuta at the Virgin Valley Heritage Museum, a recording of a Founders Forum lecture given in 2007 by Harley’s wife Willverna Leavitt, an interview with Mesquite resident Tuffy Ruth and an interview with Logandale resident Terry Leavitt, who is Harley’s son.