In the business of glass for 50 years

Doug Harton and Doug Suhy carry a new windshield to be placed in a Honda CRV. While some would be nervous working with glass, both Harton and Suhy say it doesn’t bother them.

   Bill’s Auto Glass owner Doug Harton doesn’t mind being called Bill. In fact, it’s a name he embraces and celebrates as he also celebrates this year, the 50th the business has been open. 

    “We’ve gone by Bill for 50 years,” Harton said, referring to his father, Doug Harton Sr., who was also called Bill. “Bill Price started this business in 1965, but decided he preferred body work. My dad had run the business for him, so he sold it to him. So I get called Bill all day long, but that’s OK.” 

    Located on North Powell Street near the Employment Security Commission, Bill’s Auto Glass is a hidden gem. Harton is still amazed at the folks who might not ever have noticed the business. 

    “Anything that pertains to auto glass, we can do it,” he explained. “We replace windshields, mirrors, fix door windows that won’t roll down.” 

    Repairing car windows that won’t roll down was one of Harton’s first jobs while working for his dad. It’s a task that requires finesse in order to be done correctly. 

    “He didn’t like doing them, I think, because when you get older you start to get some arthritis in your fingers and it makes it tougher,” he said. “You’ve got to look for the hidden screws.” 

     Replacing a windshield only takes a few hours, but it’s the last hour that is the most important. 

    “You have to let it sit for a while to give the urethane time to set up,” he said. “It’s sometimes hard to get folks to want to wait for that.” 

    And chances are if you call Harton today, he’ll have the windshield you need by tomorrow. 

    “I get deliveries twice a day, so if I don’t already have what you need I will quickly,” he said. 

    Minor dings and cracks to your windshield might not seem like a big deal, but per North Carolina Law, if it’s in your line of sight, it has to be replaced before you can have your car inspected. 

     Windshields of today are more flexible than those of years’ past, Harton said. 

    “It’s a thinner material, which helps keep it from breaking if you run off the road and come back on fast,” he said. 

    Harton attended Isothermal Community College and received a degree in auto body, and did that on the side while working for his dad. He took over ownership of Bill’s Auto Glass in 1996. 

    “I’ve enjoyed doing this over the years, more than the auto body work,” he said. “I’ve always tried to work for individuals like I would myself, and treat each person’s car like it was my own.” 

    Bill’s Auto Glass is open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 828-245-0923. 

Is your business celebrating a milestone anniversary in 2015 (25 years or more)? You might be featured in an article in Rutherford Weekly. Email your business name, years in business and contact information to allison@rutherfordweekly.com for consideration.