Selden F. VonHerten

Portland- Selden Von Herten, 73, of West Falmouth, ME, passed away June 12, 2014. He was born in Portland on April 4, 1941. He graduated from Westbrook High School, and was a Navy veteran. He was married to Pauline Chase on October 26, 1979.

Selden was a very successful entrepreneur, and was involved in a variety of successful ventures. He started and ran a very successful body shop, Von Herten Auto Body, for more than 50 years in the same location on Warren Avenue in Westbrook. He owned Collector’s Carousel, a specialized business in buying, selling, and appraising antique, classic, and custom automobiles. Selden also owned a company called Carousel Development, which bought and sold commercial real estate. He constructed large commercial buildings, and created his own industrial park, now called Fairlane 500 Industrial Drive which is located in Westbrook. Additionally, he bought and sold heavy equipment, and for many years, plowed and hauled snow for the City of Portland.

Selden was involved in many clubs and antique automobile groups, including American Truck Historical Society, Antique Automobile Club of America, Early Ford V8 Club of America, Crown Victoria Association, Historical Equipment Association, Metropolitan Owners Club of North America, Mount Washington Valley Old Car Club, and New England Yankeemets Club, among others. He was also on the N.A.D.A. Classic, Collectible, & Special Interest Advisory Board.

Selden had a passion for buying, selling, and collecting antique autos, mostly old Ford and Mercury’s. He was an active participant in antique auto groups throughout New England, and thoroughly enjoyed taking part in cruises and antique auto events. He was well-known at auto shows and auction throughout the US.

Selden was also a snowmobile enthusiast, and active member of the Maine Snowmobile Association and Falmouth Sno Voyagers club. Selden was well-known for his story-telling ability, and his sense of humor and dedicated work ethic, even through hard times, was an inspiration to all who knew him

Selden is survived by his wife, Polly Von Herten, two nieces Vonda Chase Barrows and her husband Tom and their son Jacob, and Kimberly Chase Hutchins and her husband Richard and their daughters Emma, Olivia and Lily and a brother in law Ron Chase and Jen, and will be dearly missed by many who thought of him warmly as a father figure and mentor.

There will be a time of visitation from 10:00 AM – 1:00 pm on Friday, June 20, 2014, at Jones, Rich &Hutchins Funeral Home, 199 Woodford Street, Portland. This will be followed by a procession to Evergreen Cemetery on Stevens Avenue, Portland, for a graveside service with military honors, at 1:30pm. Everyone is invited to join in the procession with their favorite antique auto.

Following the service, everyone is invited to cruise over to Selden’s shop at 84 Warren Avenue in Westbrook, for a brief get-together in his honor.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Selden’s memory to the Animal Refuge League, 449 Stroudwater St. Westbrook ME 04092, or to Vested Interest in K9s Inc., PO Box 9, East Taunton MA., which provides protective vests for police dogs.