History & Profile

OUR HISTORY

Paving the road to success since 1906, our founding principle has remained unchanged: moving businesses and families efficiently, quickly, professionally.

It all started with a couple of young men on bicycles-- Jim Casey and Thomas Sweeney. They formed City Messenger Service, delivering telegrams, legal papers, and messages across town.

1906--Horse and buggy replaced the bicycle as the method of transporation. The business was sold to Ralph Lester, who changed the name of the company to City Messenger and Delivery Service. In these days, a move from the mills around Green Lake to West Seattle took overnight. Movers slept in their bed rolls under their wagons.

1907--The company came to rest in the hands of Angus and Hugh McDonald and became City Messenger and Transfer Company. Hugh was a generous gentleman who raised money for charities and, if you were honest with him, would give you the shirt off his back.

1921--The company underwent a further change when it became City Transfer and Storage Company.

1928--Angus McDonald passed away and a new partner Ed Shea came on board. "Equipped for efficient service", with the top notch Kenworth motor truck, City Transfer and Storage Company was a "moving, packing, storage, shipping, nation-wide motor van service" with "fireproof warehouse, pool car shipping and distribution, general transfer and freight hauling."

1947--City Transfer and Storage Company became a founding agent for United Van Lines, an established, nation-wide company of great repute.

1976--The company experienced major changes. Mike MacDowell and his two partners purchased the company from Russ McDonald, son of one of the founders. Under their creative leadership and vision for the future the company expanded and added many services. City Moving Systems, as they renamed it, steadily grew to become one of the major leaders in the industry.


2000-- The third ownership change in City's history became effective in 2000 with the purchase agreement by long time managers Donna Hyatt and Ron Bickerstaff. Shortly after the purchase, City Moving Systems was certified as a women owned business by the State of Washington Office of Minority and Womens Business Enterprises.

COMPANY PROFILE

Name	City Moving Systems, Inc. Agent for United Van Lines, Inc.
Address	City Moving Systems, Inc. 7819 South 206th Street Kent, WA 98032 Click Here To View Our Map
Web Address	www.citymovingsystems.com
Telephone	(253)518-8800 or 1-800-426-7776
Management	Donna Hyatt - President Ron Bickerstaff - V.P. of Operations
Total Full-Time Employee	100