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.
For more Service Information,
feel free to email us or call us at 1- 800-426-7776
Our
History
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 
1947--City
Transfer and Storage Company became a founding agent for United Van Lines,
an established, nation-wide company of great repute.