Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-24
JOHN SHELTON WILLIAMS
HAD FIRST AUTOMOBILE
Comptroller of Currency Brought
Horseless Victoria to Richmond
Sixteen Years Ago.
BLENNER TELLS HISTORY
Tells Of Early Purchases OF Cars by
Andrew Pizzini, A. j. Willis, DIR.
Stuart McGuirc, w. A. Hammond
and Others.

I'm sixteen years the automobile
industry has taken giant strides. and
| to-day has advanced in this country
at least beyond all but three OF the
| older cSta blishcd manufacturing enter
priscs." declared II. a. Blcnncr of tho
Blenncr Sales Company. last night.
This infant. whose birth was rcck-
was retarded by prejudice. has actu-
ally outStrippcd many of those indus
tries regarded as stable.
Tho transition from tho days OF
| tho horsclcsS carriage to tho palace
motor car has been 50 swift that fcy
social and economic life. The motor
! car is here to stay. 1t is a. much a
part Of the twentieth century as tic
onc-horsc chaise of the earlier part
Of the nineteenth century.
The first automobile used in Rich
! mond was a Kicker Electric. which
belonged to John SHELTON Williams
This was Il Victoria, similar to the
horse-drawn vehicles. The second one
was purchased by Andrew Pi1zini.
and was known Steam Mobile
About this time, Il. i. Willis bought
a secondhand Steam T.ocomobi,c
which DR.. Stuart Mcclure crvicd and
later purchased from Mr.. Willis The
third car was bought by w. \. Ham
inond. 1t was single cylinder. curve
FIRST Run TO CHARLOTTESVILLE
TOOK PLACE. IN 1905
Unusual runs wcre TO Lakeside
Inn. where Andrew Erousc provided
sumptuous meals. When VIC wen,
! there and back without mshap. we
considered IL II wonderful feat. Later
on, W. NJ. Habliston, Jonathan Bryan,
| j. Scott Parrish. DIR. Stuart Mcclure
Fred Jurgens. W. s. Forbes, Gilmore
ID. Hotchkiss and others purchased
White steam cars.
Our first sociabiiity run was given
to Charlottesville, May 30. 1905. which
was Memorial Day. This was "A great
farms were out along tho road TO greet
US. In many places we were show
cred with flowers
'Richmond's first automobile show.
under the auspices of the Richmond
automobile dcalsrs. opened its doors
February IL to 70. 1913 Mayor Ainslic
turned the switch which transformed
the horse show building from n house
OF darkness into 4 lighted palace. An
orchestra played popular airs from
the latest accomplishments of musical
authors. Cabaret entertainers, with
their medley OF song. bid for atten-
ton. IT was a grand success.
The second automobile show was
held at the Grays' Armory, January
- TO February 3. 1917. This show,
as the first deserved it's noted sue
cess
The third show, which is now going
on. under the auspices OF the Richmond
Automobile Dealers Associations il
one OF rare beauty. The decorations
are the handsomcst that have beau
titled any exhibit held in Richmond
And it has all happened within
the memory OF the present generation.
1t isn't something in history; 1t hap
pened to-day. The youth of yester-
day, now riding in his seven-pa sscnger
car. can remember when this latest
addition 10 mans pleasure did not
exist Tho arabian Nights never told
so miraculous a story"
Mr.. Blcnner is tho oldest autom obilo
dealer in tho city, and probably in tho
state. II was under his mana Gcrship
that the first automobile show was
carried TO It's successful close.