Pioneer Times Photo/Gloria Austin
ON THE JOB — Tom Duff continues a proud family tradition of repairing automobiles that was started by his grandfather 45 years ago. Duff’s grandfather, John Cassidy operated Cassidy’s Service Station, selling and servicing Willys and Studebaker from the time he opened in 1934.
By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
HOULTON — Tom Duff has stayed true to his grandfather and father’s profession.
After 45 years, Duff’s Service Center still repairs automobiles, just like when the shop was first opened. But, complimenting the business today, Duff is selling snowblowers, along with an extensive line of lawn and garden equipment.
Duff’s grandfather, John Cassidy operated Cassidy’s Service Station, selling and servicing Willys and Studebaker from the time he opened in 1934 to when he sold out to his son-in-law Carl Duff, who officially renamed the business Duff’s Service Station in 1969.
Carl ran the station alone until his son, Tom, joined him in 1980 after being in Florida for five years. After a work-related accident, Duff came home and as he said with a laugh, “I never left.”
Duff took over the ownership of Duff’s Service Station in 2002 from his father and is in the process of renaming the business Duff’s Service Center. Carl still frequents the garage.
Old photographs on the wall show the progress of the station over the years. The black and white memories are “priceless” to Tom and the family.
“They bring back so many memories,” he said looking around at the walls. “They make me realize why I do this every day and why I enjoy it. They are truly priceless and it is amazing to see how much things have changed her with everyday business. But, the buildings and some of the work we do, have not changed.
“I still do a lot of things the way they were instilled to me by Dad,” added Duff.
Duff’s Service Center still services all makes and models of vehicles, including diagnostics, brakes, front end repair, tires, general service and tune-up, and all other automotive repairs. Duff’s Service Center is also a licensed Maine state inspection station.
As the economy has stiffened, the days of a business just concentrating in one area and carrying a single line product has gone by the wayside.
“You cannot survive on one part of a business in a small area,” said Duff. “There is also something to be said about being able to [work on a variety of equipment]. No two jobs are the same and it keeps it from being kind of tedious and boring.”
Duff’s Service Center offers seven brands of outdoor power equipment — Husqvarna, Echo, Exmark, Troy-Bilt, Mantis, Columbia, and Bear Cat, a subsidiary of Echo.
“Twenty years ago, you sold one or two lines and didn’t work on someone else’s,” Duff said. “Those days are all over. Today, you have to be diversified.”
Duff was working with his father during the recession of 1990-91, and today’s economy mirrors that time.
“I don’t want to relive that at all,” he said. “I don’t know what the future holds, but, I still know one thing about our business that has not changed. I still love working with customers.”
Duff’s son, Ryan, who lives and works in Hampden with his family still is very much involved in the business, as he takes care of the inventory, equipment orders and honoring warranty work.
“Though he doesn’t live here, Ryan is very much involved in the day-to-day operations,” said Duff. “When he is home, he does work around the shop.”
Ryan works for Atlantic Power as a salesman, covering Maine and New Hampshire.
“He has a good job with one of my distributors,” said Duff. “But, if I were speaking for him about coming back home, I would say, ‘Never say never.’”
Duff’s Service Center, located at 306 Bangor Street in Houlton, is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to noon. They service all makes and models of consumer and commercial lawn and garden equipment and carry a huge selection of outdoor equipment and car parts.
Duff’s Service Center can be reached by calling 532-2061 or emailing
