Then & Now: International Harvester, 1051-1055 Main St., Worcester

When Chicago-based International Harvester decided to open a branch in Worcester in the mid-1940s, it turned its attention to a garage in Webster Square.

The building, at 1051-1055 Main St., had last been home to a Dunlop Tire store. Years before that, the spot held the Lewis Restaurant.

After working out a deal with the owner of the building, Leo Deutelbaum of Springfield, International Harvester opened in Worcester in late 1945. The company did much of its business with local construction companies and municipalities. In August 1963, the dealership was the low bidder ($1,883.83, about $18,940 in today's dollars) in the Worcester Redevelopment Authority's search for a standard transmission, six-cylinder pickup, according to a Worcester Telegram account of an authority meeting.

By the early 1960s, International Harvester had outgrown its Webster Square building. The search for new quarters ended on Southwest Cutoff, where the company built a 16,000-square-foot showroom and repair shop.

Meantime, the old garage has had a range of occupants over the years. At one point it was subdivided, with some bays reworked from garage-sized openings to doorways. Kitchen cabinets (Orsi & Sons) and cars (Station Wagon Sales) were some of the businesses that set up shop in the years after International Harvester moved out.

More recently, the right section of the building has been home to bars. Fat Tony's Pub opened there in 2011, followed by Dirt McGirts, the current occupant.

The photo of the building in our Then photo — from 1951 — shows a billboard atop the building. The large sign, minus the International Harvester wording, appears to have held up pretty good over the years.

Last week Then & Now: Houghton's Market, 259 Lincoln St., Worcester

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Then & Now: 1051-1055 Main St., Worcester