Ortonville – Howard Grovesteen is no stranger to the history of Ortonville, nor is he a stranger to the antiquity of a few residents? license plate past.
Though he down plays his plate expertise, with more than 150 consecutively numbered licenses mounted for display, Grovesteen is a connoisseur.
‘This is no big deal compared to some guys out there,? Grovesteen said.
Like many collectors, Grovesteen’s interest in plates came to him after he inherited the bulk of his colorful treasures from his father-in-law. Many license collectors set goals which are close to their heart.
‘This is personal to me because my father-in-law was involved in this,? he said.
‘He had them hung on the wall of his garage.?
‘They came to me after he passed, and then sat in a box in the basement until I retired.?
For the past ten years, however, Grovesteen has been meticulously restoring the collection that sat dusty in his basement for more than 46 years.
With poetic license, so to speak, Grovesteen developed a four step formula to refinish, resurface, and repaint his plates to restore them to their original auto splendor.
‘Collectors say painting is a no-no but it works for my goal,? said Grovesteen.
‘I accomplished what I wanted. My goal is to just have consecutive years? .?
What Grovesteen wanted was to restore and complete the set of mostly Michigan plates his father-in-law started. Grovesteen said the set started with a 1914 ceramic plate, but numbered plates actually started in 1910. Prior to 1910 there were dashboard seals about the size of a 50 cent piece.
While Grovesteen began developing a refinishing process which included a four step stripping and repainting process he developed a resource of collectors to work with in order to complete his set. He also joined the Michigan License Plate Association, combined with scouting garage sales, flea markets and auctions to amass his current collection. .
‘My goal is to just consecutive years?
Both Howard and Dorothy (Terry) are lifelong residents of the area and have extensive historical knowledge of both people and area businesses. Before his retirement Grovesteen was an insurance sales representative for more than 25 years and his worked as a car salesperson for Owen Chevrolette, in downtown Ortonville, from 1951 to 1967, the history of license plates, both state wide and locally, came naturally to Grovesteen.
With a tone of both reminiscence and pride Grovesteen points to plates he has acquired within the community.
‘The ?45 belonged to Dr. Uloft,? said Grovesteen. ‘My 1913 was Homer Croup’s, they are original. The 1914 belonged to Kathleen Leece, and the ?59 has never been on a car.?
Wether Grovesteen works on his plate collection, out in his yard, or refinishes antiques, he can’t help but reminisce about the changes his Ortonville has seen since the first car plates.
‘When you look at those plates and think of all that’s happened since 1910,? Grovesteen said.
‘There was a time here in Ortonville when you could buy a Chevy, Ford, a Willys Knight, a Whippet a Plymouth, and a Pontiac car called the Oakland.?
‘The Ford dealer was at the corner of Mill and South streets (where the credit union is), and the Oakland-Pontiac dealer was on Mill, where the nail place is.?
‘I think if only those plates could talk,? smiled Grovesteen.