In circa 1939, Earl Milliman's Ford dealership and Mobil Gas Station stood on the southwest corner of North Broadway and Shadbolt. In a 1939 view, Floyd Lamphere, at left, operated the gas station there, while George Cole, at right, served as Orion's police chief and at one point also as a fire chief. Earl sold the business in 1952, after which it became Russ Johnson Motor Sales. Across North Broadway stood the Orion Review newspaper site, where publication had begun in 1884. During this period, Orion had three car dealerships: L. C. Anderson, selling Chevrolet and Buick at 27 East Flint St., E. R. Milliman, selling Ford at 51 N. Broadway, and Orion Auto Sales, selling Dodge at 185 S. Broadway. In the 1950s, Shafer Motor Sales, selling Oldsmobile, operated at 125 S. Broadway. In 1940, a new Ford coupe cost $691, a top-of-the-line station wagon cost $1014, and Milliman Ford offered complete lubrication, springs, sprayed, car vacuumed, and car wash service for $1.79.