By Emily Taggart Schricker Historic Fredericksburg Foundation, Inc. Motorists in the early twentieth century faced as much misfortune and obstacles as they did excitement and adventure when they took their new automobiles out on the open road. The new sport of motoring, which only the very wealthy could afford, required participants to be strong willed and physically capable to make the long, muddy, bumpy journey. In early automobile races, it was not always the fastest car that won, but often the one that broke down the least. Even if the car did stay in one piece with minimal repairs, the question remained, “Which way do we go?” Although the most direct route might not have been the most passable, and the time it took to go the long way could leave one broken down far from help—nothing could stop these adventurers. In 1910, what is now known as US Route 1 was in the early stages of becoming the Washington-Richmond Highway. Newspapers of both cities, as well as Fredericksburg’s own Free Lance and Daily Star, ran a constant flow of articles keeping citizens updated on the government’s discussions. Not everyone was in favor of improving the roads. In 1909, the Washington Post stated that the one cause of fear for the “agriculturalists” was that 18
they “look[ed] upon the road as a means for the gratification of the whim of the automobilist, and they fear[ed] the automobile as a menace to their horses, their vehicles, and their lives.” The newspaper encouraged them to see there were more farmers to benefit from the roads than automobiles. In rural areas, aggression against motorists was not an unheard of incident. Farmers would scatter glass and tacks on the roadway to cause damage to the automobiles or bury rakes and saws in the road so as to flatten passing motorists’ tires. However, if motorists could avoid muddy roads and angry country folks, and keep all of their car’s parts attached, they were rewarded with a lovely drive through the Virginia countryside. Celebrate Fredericksburg’s 20thcentury history at the Vintage Route 1 Tour and Downtown Community Day presented by the Historic Fredericksburg Foundation, Inc. Saturday, September 6th, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Riverfront Park (Sophia Street). Free activities for the entire family, including classic cars, vintage fashion show, history displays, kids’ activities, and more! Streetcar and walking tours showcasing Fredericksburg’s 20th-century history will also be available for a small fee. For more information, visit www.VintageRoute1.com.