The old Hall Pontiac building was partially demolished on Tuesday to make way for a new commercial development, but it also gave an opportunity for a new memory to be created.
Tim Hesketh, who worked at the Pontiac dealership in the 80s and met his wife there, said he was sad to see the building go – but thought "it was awesome" that he was given an opportunity to jump in the excavator and help take it down.
Hesketh won a memory contest organized by developers of The Mark, a commercial building which will be built on the site. Community members were asked to share their stories about the building, which is located on the corner of Allwood Street and South Fraser Way.
Hesketh won with his submission of the following story:
"The year was 1986 and I was the lot supervisor at Hall Pontiac. I was introduced to the new warranty clerk on her first day she worked there. For the rest of that week I offered to give her a ride home from work rather than having her mom come and pick her up. Every day I asked she would say, “not today”. Finally on a Thursday she said I could give her a ride home tomorrow.
Friday finally came, and as I dropped her off at her house, I asked her if she wanted to come watch the slo-pitch game that a bunch of us from the dealership played together on. She said she wasn't sure, but the girl that was training her brought her along. That was our first date and on Aug. 27 of this year we celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary. And last week our three kids threw us a fantastic surprise party with our family and friends all there. Even if we don't win the contest, we already have won the best prize there is."
Hesketh arrived to receive a prize for winning the contest and watch Mayor Bruce Banman use an excavator to take the first swipe at the building. After, Hesketh was offered to jump in and help pull the building down.
He said he still drives by the building often, but even when it's gone, he can show his adult children "the lot where mom and I met."
The old Hall Pontiac building went up in 1967, built by Jake Voth as a building supply store. It was bought by Byron Hall in the ’70s and used as the Pontiac dealership.