History

Tom Kelsey bought his first car, 1940 Ford Woody at the age of 12. Life in South Chatham was a little different in 1959 than it is today. Cy Baker owned all the fields between Forest Beach Road and Bayview Road and generously allowed local kids to drive their cars through them. At age 14, Tom landed his first summer job at the Jenny Station in downtown Chatham, located across from the ball field on Main Street.

The following summer, Tom worked for Joe Avellar at the Esso station, now the site of Kinlin Grover. At 16, he went to work for Roy Meservey at the Mobil station in West Chatham, now Hess. Roy was an exceptional mentor and a wonderful employer. Tom worked for him throughout high school and during his four years of college, honing his skills as a mechanic.

In 1971, Tom joined VW Brookline as a service advisor. The dealership serviced as many as 120 vehicles a day, providing invaluable experience. He eventually became used car manager before moving to Kertzman’s in Quincy as service manager. After a year in Quincy and with his 30th birthday approaching, Tom decided it was time to return home to Chatham and pursue his dream of owning his own business.

Kelsey’s Garage began in 1976 in Tom’s garage at home. The business grew quickly, and within a few months, nearly 20 cars filled the yard. As the town became concerned about a commercial operation in a residential neighborhood, Tom rented and later purchased a large commercial repair facility on Route 28 in Harwich Port. In the late 1970s, he also launched a rental car business. While both the body repair and mechanical repair operations were successful, sharing the same building proved challenging.

In 1980, Tom purchased a lot in the newly established Commerce Park industrial area of South Chatham. There, he built a 2,400-square-foot body shop and opened for business. A few years later, he made the decision to close the mechanical repair operation in Harwich Port and focus entirely on collision repair. The rental car business was relocated to South Chatham in 1987. Over the years, three major additions expanded the facility into the 10,000-square-foot operation it is today.

Tom is especially proud of the people who helped build the business. Three of the company’s fourteen current employees have been with him for more than 40 years—a testament to the loyalty, dedication, and family atmosphere that have always defined Kelsey’s. In 2006, Tom’s son Jim joined the company, starting as a wash boy before moving into the shop as a body technician. A few years later, Jim transitioned into full-time management.

In August 2017, at the age of 70, Tom retired from full-time work. Today, the business is in the capable hands of Jim Kelsey and a dedicated team of employees who continue the tradition of quality workmanship, customer service, and community commitment that Tom established nearly five decades ago.