Our History


In 1913, My dad, Arthur Henry Boehmer and Darwin Lee Brown purchased a brick building on Main Street in Wauconda, Illinois. The business known as the "Wauconda Garage" had the first available gasoline for travelers to purchase north of Des Plaines. A year later the business became a partnership known as Brown and Boehmer.

Photo at right: Art Boehmer - circa 1913



The Wauconda Garage - 1913

By 1925, the gasoline and oil brands were changed to Phillips 66. In 1929, after selling various brands of automobiles including Saxon, Ford, Baby Grand Chevrolet and the Royal Mail Roadster, Art and Lee obtained a Chevrolet franchise.

Photo at right: 1929 Chevrolet 


1929 Chevrolet

There were only a few new car models to sell after World War II. By 1947 and 1948, sales improved and we started taking used cars in on trade. GMAC also offered financing on used cars. In 1952, my dad and I bought out Lee Brown, changing the name to Boehmer Chevrolet Sales.

Photo at right: 1947 Chevrolet Ad



It has been a family business in the truest sense, beginning in 1913 with Art Boehmer and myself in 1945. Steve grew up learning the business and at the proper time was put on the payroll. In 1973, Fred Bailey joined our family through marraige to Susan.

Photo at right: Steve Boehmer, Kenneth Boehmer & Fred Bailey


From Left: Steve, Kenneth and Fred

The Boehmer family business has been a staple in the Wauconda Community for 92 years. My dad worked hard, put in long hours and earned the respect of this community and it will continue, in the Boehmer Family tradition.

- Kenneth Boehmer















Boehmer Chevrolet Sales
416 W Liberty St
Wauconda, IL 60084
P: (224) 993-5144
Email: Contact Us
Fax: 847-526-7569
SERVING THE WAUCONDA COMMUNITY SINCE: 1914
Site Map | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use
STEVE MIEHLE - Sales Manager: stevem@boehmerchevrolet.com
FRED BAILEY - General Manager: fred@boehmerchevrolet.com