These stories can also be heard on Sunday mornings around 10 am on WILD 102’s “Look Back in Time” program. Each week’s radio story will be posted here on our website.
Weekly radio stories are researched, compiled, and read by Sheila Winstead, RCHS Board Member.
November 9, 2025
Last week I read from a 1951 publication which told the history up to that time of a Roseau car
dealership, first selling Fords in about 1910, then adding Chevrolets to the line before the
partnership of Petterson and Nelson dissolved in 1918. At that time, Martin Nelson kept the
Chevrolet franchise and the blacksmith shop with horses still part of the transportation for most
people. Martin Nelson’s son Cap Nelson went to work for his dad in 1919 shoeing horses and
mending sleigh chains.
After Martin died in 1935, his sons Cap and Art took over Nelson Chevrolet. Two years later Cap
became sole owner, and the adjacent livery barn was torn down to become a used car lot for the
Nelson firm. Cap’s son Robert became a partner in 1945 and the name was changed to Nelson
and Son.
Looking through some family files at the Roseau Museum, I found a little history of when Wayne
Nelson became part of the business. Upon his return from Korea in February of 1953, Nelson
sought employment at Nelson and Son Chevrolet as a parts manager. After a short time, he tried
his hand at sales and found a comfortable niche. The Chevrolet business was then located along
Main Street where Mattson Pharmacy presently exists.
Selling cars came quite naturally to Nelson and in 1957 he purchased the dealership from Elmer
H. “Cap” Nelson. Even though these men weren’t related, a lifelong, close relationship
transpired.
“I thought of him like a father and he treated me like a son,” Nelson said. “Many people thought I
was his son; we enjoyed many activities together, including hunting, fishing and traveling. I was
thrilled to have the opportunity to get started in the business. As a new owner, Nelson’s vision for
extended services prompted him to build a body shop. “I saw a need for a body shop and built a
building in 1957,” he said. In April 2002, when the article I’m reading from was written, the
building was still operating as a body shop and was located south of the Cenex store in West
Acres and owned by Cory Wimpfheimer. “It was the second building in West Acres,” Nelson said.
“H. F. Peterson had the first Builders Supply building where Cenex is now located.”
Shortly thereafter, Nelson purchased two more downtown buildings and had them moved in west
of the body shop. “The Habstritt Seed Building, previously located where Ben Franklin was in
2002, served as a radiator repair shop,” Nelson said. “The Helgeson Furniture store was used for
storage of used auto parts.” Both buildings have since been removed from West Acres.
In 1967, Nelson purchased and removed the Bert Hanson Law Office building located on Main
Street south of Langlie’s for displaying cars. Nelson remarked, “I desired more display space for
new and used cars and an open lot on Main Street across from my business was ideal,” In 1968,
Nelson also purchased the Bakken Apparel building adjacent to his car lot. His intentions of
removing this building were instantly diminished. “Bakken Apparel customers talked us into
operating a ladies wear business,” Nelson said. “My wife Marlene, instantly became a business
owner and operated the store for one year.”
The following year, the Nelsons purchased and remodeled the Wilson Brothers building which
adjoined the clothing store. Marlene moved her clothing business into this store and named it the
Fashion Center. Her previous building was also removed. She operated the store until 1978.
At that time, the Nelsons sold the Fashion Center and three adjoining lots to Roseau Realty for
the Citizens State Bank expansion project.
In the fall of 1983, Fred Sorenson and his son Lee purchased Nelson’s building and lot on Main
Street and acquired the Chevrolet-Oldsmobile franchise from General Motors. Nelson then
purchased the former Jackson Pontiac Buick building and continued his business at 119 2nd
Street SW. Having 28 years experience in new car sales, Nelson terminated the franchise and
began selling used cars.
“Times were tough,” he said, mention the Polaris closing, farmers facing a dry season in the fall
of 1980, and rising interest rates which reached 23 percent.
In 2002, as of May 1, the business changed ownership to Bryan “Butsy” Erickson, a Roseau
native. Wayne looked forward to the next phase of life and planned to continue to be involved
with the automobile business for a while as he helps Bryan Erickson make the transition. “I wish
Bryan great success in his new venture and hope our customers will be as good to him as they
have been to me,” Nelson said.
Bryan, son of Binky and Eldyne Erickson, and his wife Dianne, previously resided in Alexandria,
where they owned a sporting goods store. She became an employee at Roseau Hospital as an
x-ray technician.
Bryan noted that moving to Roseau was a positive venture for their family. He said, “I have much
respect for Wayne Nelson; he’s been a very honest and trustworthy businessman and he’s
earned the place he’s at. I feel real good about this business opportunity and look forward to
working with him to make the transition slow and patient. Pleasing customers and making them
feel good about their purchases is very rewarding. Being here feels more like home to our family
than anywhere we’ve been; we’re home and it’s a great feeling.”
Thank you to 
for letting us share our county’s history with your listeners by donating air time, studio time, and production staff every week.