Those who know me very well will realize that it was only a matter of time before I wrote a column about one of my favorite subjects - antique automobiles. I decided to take this opportunity having just returned from the annual AACA car meet at Emerson Park. The local chapter organized in 1970, and, I believe, that I have been to every meet at the lake.

When I say “antique automobiles” I don't mean “rodded,” or “ enhanced” vehicles, I mean genuine, legitimate old motor vehicles. I own a 1930 Ford “Fordor” (Hey, don't criticize my spelling, that's how Henry spelled it), and I drive it all over.

Last summer, we went to Bennington, Vt. where Hemmings Motor News, the bible of the hobby, is published. Every year, they sponsor a show and concourse on top of Stratton Mountain. Of the more than 200 cars which made the 50 plus mile climb, the Ford and I were the only ones silly enough to go up with an unpressurized cooling system and probably even worse, came back down with mechanical brakes. It was a tough fight ma, but we won!

This is not an acquired taste. I remember as a child watching parades in Weedsport. My favorite part was always the 1919 Chevrolet owned by local Chevy dealer Guy Lanphere purring down the street. Guy came by his vocation naturally, since his father had owned a dealership which pre-dated motor vehicles. He sold carriages, buggies, farm equipment and Studebaker wagons. With the advent of motor vehicles, it was only natural that Fred D. Lanphere morphed right into automobiles and trucks. Besides Studebaker, he also sold at one time, or another, Franklin automobiles, which of course were built in Syracuse, Pope, REO and Willys-Knight cars.

In the museum, we have a photo taken in 1913 showing the ninth car in the village. It was a Model T Ford of that vintage. The car was owned by Dr. Goodwin and is shown parked on Liberty Street, around the corner from his home. The license plate is very visible in the picture and displayed directly above the picture is that license plate. In the winter, Dr. Goodwin would mount skis, on the front wheels, (which were an after market option on the Ford) for making his rural rounds.

Other old cars in town included an Auburn limousine owned by Wellington Blaisdell, a Stutz Bearcat owned by Nick Goss, Ab Hoyt used a Franklin in his funeral business and Floyd Clark drove a Scripps Booth. Warren Dursten had a 16-cylinder Cadillac, and not to be outdone, Dwight LaDue had a 16-cylinder Marmon. There were of course many Model “T” and later Model “A” Fords and the occasional Chevrolet, Studebaker, Nash or Hudson among others.

Dealers in Weedsport included Ralph St. John who sold Plymouth, Dodge, DeSoto and Chrysler; Willis Hammond who sold Willys Overland; Roger Eidman who was the Hudson dealer and C. E. Miner, Ford and Mercury; Walt Smith sold Buicks and Pontiacs, and later George Harris and then Mendel-Parker at the same location. As we mentioned above, Guy Lanphere sold and serviced Chevrolet and was later bought out by Humphrey-Spingler. Nastri sold Chrysler products and was later bought out by Fox. I list all of these dealers (and there were probably more) simply because there is today not a single dealership left in our area.

Not only have the fine names of Packard, Studebaker, Franklin, Pierce Arrow, Auburn, Cord, Dusenberg, Hudson, LaSalle Plymouth, Desoto, Oldsmobile, Kaiser and many more gone, but one has to go to a mega-dealership now to even buy a car. No longer is there the trust and faith that a buyer had when dealing with one of their neighbors.

Denny Randall is president of the Old Brutus Historical Society in Weedsport