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continuous serviceFORD JACKSON and RUSSEL RAWLINGS Remodeling in 1980 on Diamond StSandy Street StoreHarry Merriman and Russel Rawlings opened R and M Electric House, as it was known then, in October of 1945. “We are the oldest independent appliance dealer in the Jacksonville area. Russel left Illinois Power the year before because the company had largely gone out of the appliance repair business sometime in 1942 when replacement parts became difficult to obtain. When we opened the store, we carried the Westinghouse line, Roper gas ranges and many small table appliances. We added Maytag items in 1950.”It was also in 1950 that Ford Jackson bought out Harry Merriman's interest in the store. The Jackson-Rawlings partnership lasted until 1976 when Bob Marylin Spargo purchased the operation. Originally the firm was located on Sandy Street just south of the square, but theSOUTH DIAMONDNewly Remodeled Store on Diamond St.building was torn down in 1974 as part of the urban development plan for the plaza, making way for a parking lot. The business was then moved to its present location at 600 South Diamond.In addition to the complete White-Westinghouse line, which includes freezers, refrigerators, washers, dryers, disposals, and water heaters, R and M Appliances also handles the Maytag, Kitchen-Aid. Roper, Amana, Tappan and Jenn-Air lines.Most of the repair work at R and M is handled by Bob Oxley, Terry Hopkins and Ron Aring. Owner Bob Spargo is also on call occasionally,when he’s not managing the store. Earl Ford handles deliveries. Russell Johnson is in Sales and Norma Sexton is our bookkeeper. And of course, Russel Rawlings is still going out on service calls every day of each week.In October of 1980 ground was broken for the present remodeled R M facilities at 600 South Diamond in order to better serve our customers now and in the future.
Newspaper Details
Jacksonville Daily Journal
Jacksonville, Illinois, US
Wed, Oct 21, 1981
Page 68
Full Page
Clipped by
Marilyn B.
NA, NA 09 Jan 2023
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