THE NEW PRICE AUTO REPAIR — Present at the June 3 ribbon cutting ceremony were, from left, back row, Kosciusko County Chamber of Commerce President Rob Parker; Heartline Pregnancy Center Executive Director Amy Rosswurm; Katrina Kelley, Napa Auto Parts, Milford; Kosciusko County Commissioner Brad Jackson; Todd Willis, Napa Auto Parts; Ron Smith, Jenkins Automotive; Rick Jenkins, Napa Auto Parts; Alyssa Lowe, Marketing Manager, Kosciusko Chamber; . Front row, from left: Jason Monroe, Price Auto Repair; Diana Price, Price Auto Repair; Stanley Price, Founder of Price Auto Repair; Ginger Price, Price Auto Repair; Terry Zelt, Napa Auto Parts; Shelby Price, Price Auto Repair. (Photo by David Hazledine)

MILFORD — Thirty-four years ago this week, Stanley Price opened Price Auto Repair, 11517 SR 15, in Milford. Friday, June 3, he was present at the ribbon cutting for a new building, owned and operated by his son Lee. The ribbon cutting comes 10 months after a fire devastated the previous building.

“I appreciate the customers bearing with us during this difficult period,” said Lee following the ceremony, which was attended by members of the Kosciuskco County Chamber of Commerce, NAPA auto parts employees as well as family and friends from the community.

Lee remembered people dropping cars off by the road the morning after the fire. “We worked that day,” he recalled, “Changing oil at full steam.”

In fact, temporary quarters were set up in Stanley Price’s original garage, where Lee learned the trade, rebuilding engines at the age of 15. Price Auto also occupied a quonset hut on CR 1350, Milford, in the interim, where technicians Jason Monroe and Shelby Price, a third generation Price mechanic, worked through the winter and spring without such luxuries as car lifts.

“I figured that’s all I would need,” Stan said of that first garage, “But we just got busier and busier.” A towing service flourished for a while as well. Changes in the towing industry led Lee to scale back, however. According to Stan, Lee donated proceeds from the sale of five cars to the MIlford food pantry. Later, he did the same with the steel salvaged from the fire.

“It’s been a long time coming,” commented Ginger Price, Lee’s mother, about the new building. She helped out with clerical duties while he shuttled back and forth between buildings. The work wasn’t new; She kept the books for Stan in the 80s and 90s. Lee’s wife, Diana, also works in family business .

Price Auto Repair technician, Todd Monroe, services the second car in the new building. The first car serviced was founder Stan Price’s. (Photo by David Hazledine)

The first car serviced in the new building was Stan’s, an oil change. As the second car went up on a brand new lift, Lee said, “I’m ready to get to work.”