Ivy Wood Hunt

Ivy Wood Hunt was born in Missouri. As a young adult he moved to Virginia and eventually formed a company named Clarkson, Garrett, and Hunt, selling oysters to businesses in Baltimore and Philadelphia. While in Virginia, he met Miss Lulie Garrett; they married and in 1913 moved to Littleton. In July, 1913, Ivy purchased the Ford Agency in Littleton. He purchased the Littleton Garage in 1915 with his partner, Emmett Stephenson. The letter, "H", was placed on the front and sides of the building, which was located on the corner of Main and Harrison Streets (now Sycamore Street).

Hunt opened a gas station in 1931. He had cut away a corner of his building formerly occupied by the showroom, and installed four new electric gasoline pumps and two bays to service cars. A large ad in the Littleton Independent announced that a gift would be given at the grand opening to every "sweetheart in a car making a purchase of any kind." Anyone driving in for a "crankcase change of oil" would be given a ticket good for 5 gallons of gasoline, provided that they stayed to watch the oil change procedure.

Interior of I.W. Hunt Ford Agency at 2309 W. Main Street, c.1928. Automobile is one of the first Lincolns manufactured. Photo by Edwin Balmer.

Hunt offered a new system of motorcar lubrication at his remodeled station. The Chek-Chart System was developed by car manufacturers to be used for every make of car. This automotive encyclopedia was a book of lubrication charts for all car models. Each chart included information about where to lubricate, what type of oil to use, and what quantity of oil to use. The inflation pressures of tires was also included.

I.W. Hunt Ford Agency at 2309-39 W. Main Street, c.1920s. Building was constructed in 1919.

Hunt was an active member of the Weston Masonic Lodge after transferring his membership from Boykins Lodge #287, Boykins, Virginia in 1915. The need for a Masonic temple for Weston Lodge became paramount in 1920, and trustees were appointed to oversee the building project. Hunt became a trustee along with O.C. Hoffman, Rudolph Candler and others. In fact, Hunt donated the land for the building site.

Ivy Hunt was quite involved in local affairs. He served as treasurer of the First Baptist Church and as director of the Civic and Commercial Association; he was a Rotarian and served on the Town Board from 1916-1920. Hunt had gained prominence by 1927, as he was on the ballot for the "Six Leading Men of Littleton and Vicinity." The contest was sponsored by the Littleton Independent.

Ivy Wood Hunt passed away on December 15, 1962, after many years of service to the Littleton community.

Bibliography

Freemasons, Littleton (Colo.) Weston Lodge Number Twenty-two, A. F. & A. M., 1872-1973. Littleton, Colo.: A. F. & A. M. 1973.

Littleton (Colo.) Independent. The Littleton Independent Publishers, 1888-.

Littleton Museum. Vertical File. Biography:

Photographs courtesy of the Littleton Museum unless otherwise noted. To order copies, contact the museum at 303-795-3950.

Compiled by Rebecca Dorward
Edited by Phyllis Larison and Lorena Donohue

Updated March 2021 by Phyllis Larison