FIRST AUTOS IN THE AREA

Excerpted from Robert Van Atta’s VIGNETTES  & The Tribune Review

A little more than a century ago, a novelty that has had quite an effect on our lives came into being: the horseless carriage.

The first in Greensburg was a Winton Motor Phaeton, purchased by Murray Forbes, Manager of the Westmoreland Water Co., “for pleasure purposes”. To quote an account of the arrival of the auto in Greensburg, “Mr. Forbes carriage is a very handsome one, containing one seat which is sufficiently wide to seat three persons. It is operated with gasoline. A representative of the company is in Greensburg for the purpose of instructing Mr. Forbes in manipulating it.”

The first registered auto in Indiana County was a Locomobile, owned by Clarence R. Claghorn, of Wehrum, recorded in that county in August 1903, before the state became involved with auto registration in 1905. Another early motorist in that county was J.R. Stumpf, owner of Indiana’s first five-and-ten- cents store. He drove his Stanley Steamer in front on his store to attract new business.

An automobile manufacturing plant was established in Connellsville after fire destroyed the lock business that had previously occupied a large industrial building in South Connellsville. The management envisioned an automotive future, and began the manufacture of a steam propelled automobile in 1900, making all of the parts there except wheels, tires and bodies.

Named the Baldwin Automobile Co, it employed several hundred men in the machine shop, erecting rooms, boiler house, complete iron and brass foundries and hammer shop, but the venture was premature since autos were still in an experimental stage. Returns were disappointing, and the business closed down.

Another historic date with respect to horseless carriages occurred in April 1901, when the first auto accident was reported in Pittsburgh.   

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