History of the Garage

Raleigh Garage Door: A History!

The history of a Raleigh garage door, and the garage, in general, is something many people never even think about. When were they invented?  Where did the idea for garages come from? Why are they even called garages?
The term garage comes from French word, “garer”, that means to shelter. Seems fitting for something that houses vehicles, workshops, tools, and more, right?!
According to precision.com, “The first garages were converted carriage houses, originally used to house the family carriage or buggy, horse, and related tack. As the automobile replaced the horse as the primary means of transportation, the former carriage house was granted a new lease on life as a place to shelter the newfangled “horseless carriage.” For those folks without a carriage house, pioneer retailer Sears Roebuck & Company introduced a portable garage in 1908. A novelty at first, the automobile grew to widespread acceptance after the passage of the Federal Road Act of 1916 and the Federal Highway Act of 1921. Together these two pieces of legislation, along with Henry Ford’s revolutionary production process, truly put the world on wheels. The next logical step was to find a more convenient place to house this new necessity of life.
Not surprisingly, the earliest garages built specifically to shelter the family car closely resembled the old carriage house down to the traditional gabled roof.  Refinements such as the introduction of the overhead garage door in 1921, and the automatic garage door opener in 1926 quickly grew from novelty to necessity and helped fuel the public’s demand for a better garage. As early as 1925, real estate agents were reporting that one of the first questions asked by prospective buyers was whether the home included a garage.”
Turns out, garages are a vital part of our lives that we take for granted! Imagine if no one thought to invent them?! If you’re interested in learning a bit more about the history of the garage, be sure to check back with us for our next post!
Also, if you’ve been neglecting the maintenance of your Raleigh garage door for some time now, and feel like you need to get started on giving them some TLC, be sure to contact our Raleigh garage door repair specialists at Hanson Overhead! We are available, 24/7, to help you with all your garage door needs!