Company houses

[NW Modeling List]

I know this is a little different for a topic, but I am looking for some
information.  I recently built a coal mining facility complete with several
company houses and a company store.  My question is:  When did automobiles
start to show up owned by company house residents?  A friend of mine said
they did not have cars before the late fifties or early sixties.  I have
seen pictures of company houses with cars at a much earlier date.  Since I'm
modelling the N&W in the mid-to-late fifties, I would like to have cars and
trucks but would like to be somewhat accurate.
Thanks for any insight,
Ron K.